Yorùbá proverbs
961
Igba eṣinṣin kì í dè'nà de ọwọ̀.
- Literal translation
- Two hundred flies cannot waylay the broom.
- Meaning
- Refers to an impossible scenario
962
Ìgbà ìpọ́njú là ńm'ọ̀rẹ́; ọjọ́ tó bá burú la ńm'ẹni tó fẹ́'ni.
- Literal translation
- It is during difficult times that true friends are known; when things are really tough is when those who truly care can be identified.
- Meaning
- Difficult times can be useful: they help identify those who truly care
963
Ìgbà ìpọ́njú là ńmọ ọ̀rẹ́; ọjọ́ tó bá burú là ńmọ ẹni tó fẹ́'ni
- Literal translation
- It's during tough times that true friends are known; when things are really difficult is when you'll know those who truly care.
- Meaning
- Difficult times have one good purpose: they help reveal those who truly care
964
Ìgbà ìpọ́njú là ńmọ ọ̀rẹ́; ọjọ́ tó bá burú la ńmọ ẹni tó fẹ́'ni.
- Literal translation
- It is during times of deprivation that true friends are known; when things are tough is when we can know those who truly care.
- Meaning
- Difficult times do point out those who truly care
965
Ìgbà kan ńlọ ìgbà kan ńbọ̀, ẹnìkan ò lo ilé ayé gbó
- Literal translation
- One season goes another comes, no one can dominate forever.
- Meaning
- Nobody dominates forever
966
Ìgbà kan ńlọ ìgbà kan ńbọ̀; ẹnìkan ò lo ilé ayé gbó
- Literal translation
- One season goes & another comes; no one can dominate forever.
- Meaning
- Change is inevitable
967
Ìgbà kan ńlọ ìgbà kan ńbọ̀; ẹnìkan ò lo ilé ayé gbó.
- Literal translation
- One season goes and another comes; no one can dominate forever.
- Meaning
- Change is inevitable
968
Ìgbà kan ńlọ, ìgbà kan ńbọ̀; ẹnìkan ò lo ilé ayé gbó.
- Literal translation
- One season goes another comes, no one can dominate forever.
- Meaning
- Do or die mindset is needless; change is inevitable; nobody dominates forever.
969
Ìgbà ò lọ bí òréré; ayé ò lọ bí ọ̀pá ìbọn.
- Literal translation
- No season goes on endlessly; life isn't always as straight as the barrel of a gun.
- Meaning
- Change is inevitable; may this day marks the beginning of a fresher and better air for us all. Merry Christmas everyone.
970
Igbá oró kì í fọ́; ìkà ńbọ̀ wá padà fi jẹun.
- Literal translation
- The plate of wickedness never wholly breaks; the wicked will yet eat out of it.
- Meaning
- We will reap whatever we sow, ultimately; sow good seeds
971
Igbá oró kìí fọ́; ìkà ńbọ̀ wá padà fi jẹun
- Literal translation
- The plate of wickedness never wholly breaks; the wicked will yet use it to eat.
- Meaning
- Sowing & reaping
972
Ìgbà tí ijó bá yẹ'ni lá ńkúrò lójú agbo
- Literal translation
- One ought to leave the dance floor, when the ovation is loudest.
- Meaning
- There is a right time for things
973
Ìgbà tí ijó bá yẹ'ni lá ńkúrò lójú agbo.
- Literal translation
- One should quit the dance floor when the ovation is loudest.
- Meaning
- Know when to quit; be perceptive.
974
Ìgbà tí'jó bá yẹni lá ńkúrò lójú agbo
- Literal translation
- It is when the ovation is loudest that one ought to quit the dance floor.
- Meaning
- Knowing when to quit
975
Ìgbín kì í tẹnu mọ́'gi kó má gùn ún.
- Literal translation
- A snail does not embark on climbing a tree and fail to climb it.
- Meaning
- Being persistent
976
Ìgbín kì í tẹnu mọ́gi kó má gùn ún
- Literal translation
- The snail never embarked on climbing a tree and failed to climb it.
- Meaning
- Dogged determination is critical
977
Ìgbín kìí tẹnu mọ́gi kó má gùn ún
- Literal translation
- The snail never embarks on climbing a tree & fails to climb it
- Meaning
- Be focused to finish whatever you start
978
Ìgbín ò lè sáré bí Ajá; ìyẹn ò ní kó máà de ibi tó ńlọ
- Literal translation
- The snail cannot run as fast as the dog; that won't stop it from getting to wherever it's going.
- Meaning
- We are all differently endowed; stay in your lane and run your own race; envy no one
979
Ìgbín ò lè sáré bí Ajá; ìyẹn ò ní kó máà de ibi tó ńlọ.
- Literal translation
- The snail cannot run as fast as the dog; that won't stop the snail from getting to wherever it's going.
- Meaning
- We are all differently endowed; stay in and focus on your lane: run your own race; envy no one
980
Ìgbin tó wá ẹ̀jẹ̀ lọ sí ilé alákàn, bó ti wọlé ni yóò padà jáde.
- Literal translation
- Any snail that goes to the crab's burrow in search of blood, will come out the same way it goes in (empty-handed, as crabs have no blood).
- Meaning
- Be result-oriented; avoid fruitless pursuits