Yorùbá proverbs
1041
Ìpa à ńpa oṣè, ara ló fi ńsan.
- Literal translation
- Every attempt to destroy the baobab tree keeps making it stronger.
- Meaning
- Not everyone can be pulled down; wicked attacks make some stronger; be positive and forward-looking: ignore wicked souls.
1042
Ipá ńmú ẹṣin lọ sódò, ipá ò fún lómi mu
- Literal translation
- You can force a horse to the river but you can't force it to drink water.
- Meaning
- You can provide opportunities, but you can't force anyone to take or make the best of them; you can't force anyone to do what he or she is determined not to do
1043
Ipá ńmú ẹṣin lọ sódò, ipá ò fún un lómi mu.
- Literal translation
- You can force a horse to the river but you can't force it to drink water.
- Meaning
- You can provide opportunities, but you can't force anyone to take or make the best of them; you can't force anyone to do what he or she is determined not to do.
1044
Ìpàdé ahọ́n àti ẹnu kò sẹ̀hìn Olódùmarè.
- Literal translation
- The meeting of the tongue with the mouth is not beyond God's knowledge.
- Meaning
- No sustainable success is beyond God.
1045
Ìran kì í sú ojú
- Literal translation
- The eyes never gets bored of seeing (or watching).
- Meaning
- It's not difficult to persists in what one loves
1046
Ìràwọ̀ ò tó'ràwọ̀ ni kúrò lọ́ọ̀ọ́kán, káyé ó rí mi
- Literal translation
- Only a less than sparkling star seeks attention.
- Meaning
- Be secure in who you are.
1047
Ìràwọ̀ ò tó'ràwọ̀ ni kúrò lọ́ọ̀ọ́kán, káyé ó rí mi.
- Literal translation
- Only a less than sparkling star strives for attention.
- Meaning
- We ought to be secure in who we are; no grandstanding
1048
Ìràwọ̀ ọ̀sán gangan tó ohun tí gbogbo àwọn àgbàlagbà ńpéjọ wò.
- Literal translation
- A star that shows up at noon merits the undivided attention of all the elders.
- Meaning
- An unprecedented issue deserves unusual attention
1049
Ìrèké ò ní ibùdó; ibi gbogbo ló gba alágbára.
- Literal translation
- Sugarcane has no specific place of refuge; every situation suits a diligent fellow just fine.
- Meaning
- Diligence pays.
1050
Ìrèké ò ní'bùdó; ibi gbogbo ló gba alágbára
- Literal translation
- Sugarcane has no place of refuge; every situation suits a hardworker just fine.
- Meaning
- Diligence pays
1051
Ìrèké ò ní'bùdó; ibi gbogbo ló gba alágbára.
- Literal translation
- Sugarcane has no specific place of sprouting; every situation suits the diligent person just fine.
- Meaning
- Be strong; be diligent; diligence pays.
1052
Ìrèké ò níbùdó, ibi gbogbo ló gba alágbára.
- Literal translation
- Sugarcane has no specific place of sprouting; every situation suits a hardworker just fine.
- Meaning
- Diligence pays.
1053
Ìrèké ò níbùdó; ibi gbogbo ló gba alágbára.
- Literal translation
- The sprouting of the sugarcane is not constrained to a specific place; every situation suits a hard worker just fine.
- Meaning
- Diligence pays; the diligent person seldom whines
1054
Ìríkúrìí kì í fọ́ ojú
- Literal translation
- To see unusual things, does not necessarily make one blind.
- Meaning
- You can do more than you think
1055
Ìrìn a rìn, làá ko'ni.
- Literal translation
- As we walk, so we meet people.
- Meaning
- Our 'appearance' determines our association
1056
Ìrírí ayé ò ní ti'ni títí kó ti'ni pa, ọgbọ́n ló fi ńkọ́'ni
- Literal translation
- Life's challenges do not kill, they simply make one wiser.
- Meaning
- Keep holding on
1057
Ìrọ̀rùn igi ni ìrọ̀rùn ẹyẹ.
- Literal translation
- The peace of the tree is what engenders peace to the birds that perched on it (and vice versa).
- Meaning
- It is never too late to do the right thing: , and Now; no further lives need be lost
1058
Irun ò ni kún kí abẹ ma lè ge.
- Literal translation
- The hair can't be so bushy that the blade won't be able to cut it.
- Meaning
- No impossibility
1059
Iṣẹ́ kì í pani, ìṣẹ́ ló ńpànìyàn.
- Literal translation
- Work never kills anyone; it's poverty that does.
- Meaning
- Hardwork pays
1060
Ìṣẹ́ kì í ṣẹ́ ẹja kó má lè wẹ̀ nínú odò.
- Literal translation
- A fish cannot experience so much deprivation as to be unable to swim in the river.
- Meaning
- Keep up hope; tough times will not be forever; there is a limit to any challenge.