Yorùbá proverbs
1161
Kò sí òbúrẹ́wà kan ńbì kan; òṣì ló ńmú ẹwà á ṣì.
- Literal translation
- No one is ugly; deprivation is what mars inherent beauty.
- Meaning
- With access to the right resources and support, everyone can go far: despise no one
1162
Kò sí ohun tí à ńjẹ tí kì í tán, à fi ọlá Ọlọrun.
- Literal translation
- There is nothing we are eating that won't eventually be exhausted, but the blessing of God.
- Meaning
- Only the blessings from God endure.
1163
Kò sí ohun tí sùúrù sè tí kò jinná
- Literal translation
- There is nothing 'cooked' by patience that won't get done
- Meaning
- With patience complex issues get simplified
1164
Kò sí ohun tí sùúrù sè tí kò jinná.
- Literal translation
- There is nothing 'cooked' by patience that won't get done.
- Meaning
- Don't give up
1165
Kò sí ohun tí sùúrù sè, tí kò jinná.
- Literal translation
- There is nothing 'cooked' by patience that won't get done.
- Meaning
- Don’t give up; with patience, even complex issues get resolved
1166
Kò sí ohun tó le tí kì í rọ̀
- Literal translation
- There is nothing so hard (or difficult), that it can't be softened (or resolved).
- Meaning
- No irredeemable case
1167
Kò sí ohun tó le tí kì í rọ̀.
- Literal translation
- There is nothing that is hard that cannot become soft.
- Meaning
- No impossibility; no irredemmable situation; keep up hope: never say never
1168
Kò sí ohun tó n'íbẹ̀rẹ̀ tí kò ní lópin
- Literal translation
- There is nothing with a beginning that won't have an ending.
- Meaning
- Nothing lasts forever; keep hope alive
1169
Kò sí ohun tó n'íbẹrẹ tí kò ní lópin.
- Literal translation
- There is nothing with a beginning that won't have an ending.
- Meaning
- Nothing lasts forever; no issue can remain intractable forever; keep hope alive.
1170
Kò sí ohun tó n'íbẹ̀rẹ̀ tí kò ní lópin.
- Literal translation
- There is nothing with a beginning that won't have an ending.
- Meaning
- Nothing lasts forever
1171
Kò sí ohun tó ní ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ tí kò ní lópin.
- Literal translation
- There is nothing that has a beginning that won't have an ending.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive: nothing lasts forever; everything is only for a time: change is certain
1172
Kò sí ohun tó pọ̀ tí kì í tán, àfi ọlá Ọlọ́run.
- Literal translation
- Nothing, but the grace of God, can be so much in abundance and not be exhausted, ultimately,
- Meaning
- Only the blessings from God endure.
1173
Kò yẹ kí obì aláwẹ́ mẹ́ta díjà sílẹ̀ láàrín in ọmọ ìyá mẹ́ta.
- Literal translation
- Sharing a kolanut with 3 parts should not put 3 maternal siblings at loggerheads.
- Meaning
- Be fair: take advantage of no one; be contented: live and let live.
1174
Kójú má ríbi ẹsẹ̀ loògùn rẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- If the eyes will not see evil, the legs are the antidote.
- Meaning
- Quickly distance yourself from intolerable risks
1175
Kòkòrò tó ńjẹfọ́ ara ẹfọ́ ló wá; iná tó ńjẹni ńbẹ lábẹ́ aṣọ.
- Literal translation
- The insect that is eating the vegetable is right on it; the louse living off anyone is under his or her garment.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive, be vigilant; often the solution to an issue is closer than imagined.
1176
Kòkòrò tó ńjó lẹ́ẹ̀bá ọ̀nà, onílù rẹ̀ ńbẹ nínú igbó
- Literal translation
- The insect dancing by the bush path has its drummer in the bush
- Meaning
- Look beyond the obvious
1177
Kòkòrò tó ńjó lẹ́ẹ̀bá ọ̀nà, onílù rẹ̀ ńbẹ nínú igbó.
- Literal translation
- The insect that is dancing by the bush path has its drummer right in the forest.
- Meaning
- Things are often not quite as they appear; don't jump to conclusions before thorough and critical reviews.
1178
Kọ̀lọ̀kọ̀lọ̀ tó bá ńsùn ò lè rí ogbe àkùkọ jájẹ.
- Literal translation
- A sleeping fox can't get to eat a cock's comb.
- Meaning
- No complacency.
1179
Kọ̀lọ̀kọ̀lọ̀ tó bá ńsùn, kò lè rí ogbe àkùkọ já jẹ.
- Literal translation
- A sleeping fox won't get to eat a cock's comb.
- Meaning
- Promptly take advantage of opportunities; no complacency.
1180
Kọ̀lọ̀kọ̀lọ̀ tó bá ńsùn, ò lè rí ogbe àkùkọ jájẹ
- Literal translation
- A fox that sleeps won't get to eat a cock's comb.
- Meaning
- Effort precedes results