Yorùbá proverbs
1181
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
- Diligence pays
1182
Kúkúǹdùkú dùn ládùnjù ó tẹ́ lọ́wọ́ oníyán
- Literal translation
- The sweet potato became too sweet & ended up useless to the pounded yam seller
- Meaning
- Moderation is it
1183
Labalábá tó fi ara ẹ̀ wé ẹyẹ kò lè ṣe ìṣe ẹyẹ
- Literal translation
- A butterfly that likens itself to a bird can't act like one.
- Meaning
- No one can take another's place
1184
Labalábá tó fi ara rẹ̀ wẹ́yẹ kò lè ṣe ìṣe ẹyẹ
- Literal translation
- A butterfly that likens itself to a bird can't act like one.
- Meaning
- No one can take another's place
1185
Láníntán kan kò lè ni ìwo ẹṣin
- Literal translation
- No one can be so wealthy as to own the horn of a horse (since horses don't have horns)
- Meaning
- Contentment is it: absolutely no one has (nor indeed can have) it all together; we all will always have unsatisfied wants, albeit different
1186
Láníntán kan kò lè ni ìwo ẹṣin.
- Literal translation
- No one can be so wealthy as to own the horn of a horse (since horses don't have horns).
- Meaning
- Contentment is it: absolutely no one has (nor indeed can have) it all together; we will always have unsatisfied wants: human wants are insatiable.
1187
Láníntán kan kò ní ni ìwo ẹṣin
- Literal translation
- No one can be so wealthy as to own the horn of a horse (since horses have no horns).
- Meaning
- No one has it all made
1188
Lẹ́hìn òkùkù biribiri ìmọ́lẹ̀ á tàn.
- Literal translation
- After a pitch darkness, most assuredly comes the dawn.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive, don't give up.
1189
Lẹ́hìn òkùkù biribiri, ìmọ́lẹ̀ á tàn.
- Literal translation
- After a pitch darkness, most assuredly comes the dawn.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive
1190
Lẹ́hìn òkùnkùn biribiri, ìmọ́lẹ̀ á tàn.
- Literal translation
- After a pitch-dark night, most assuredly comes the dawn.
- Meaning
- Darkness won't be forever: look beyond to the coming dawn; keep hope alive; the best is yet to come.
1191
Lẹ́hìn onísùúrù l'Ọlọ́run wà.
- Literal translation
- God backs the patient.
- Meaning
- Patience is critical
1192
Lẹ́yìn onísùúrù l'Ọlọ́run wà.
- Literal translation
- God backs the patient.
- Meaning
- Patience pays
1193
Lọ́jọ́ ti omi bá tán lẹ́hìn ẹja, ọwọ́ lásán ni wọ́n máa fi mú u.
- Literal translation
- The day water ceases to back the fish, it will simply be picked up (in the river) with mere hands.
- Meaning
- Good support and network matter; absence of good support could make one vulnerable.
1194
Má bà á loògùn ẹ̀tẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- Avoiding contact is the antidote to leprosy.
- Meaning
- A surefire way to solve a problem is to avoid having it in the first place
1195
Máa jó lọ mò ńwẹ̀hìn ẹ, irọ́ ló ńjẹ́ bẹ́ẹ̀
- Literal translation
- 'Keep on dancing I'm watching your back' is nothing but deception
- Meaning
- Man's promises may be futile
1196
Màlúù tí kò ní ìrù, Ọlọ́run ni í lé eṣinṣin fún un.
- Literal translation
- It is God who invariably fends off flies for a cow that has no tail.
- Meaning
- God helps those who can't help themselves.
1197
Màlúù tí ò n'írù, Ọlọ́run ni í lé eṣinṣin fún un.
- Literal translation
- It's God that fends off flies for a cow that has no tail.
- Meaning
- God helps those who can't help themselves; whatever is impossible to man, is possible with God.
1198
Màlúù tí ò ní ìrù, Ọlọ́run ni í lé eṣinṣin fún un.
- Literal translation
- God, Himself, is the one who fends off flies for a cow that has no tail.
- Meaning
- God is the helper of the helpless; He is faithful and always come through; you can hang on Him.
1199
Màrìwò kì í wí fún'ra wọn tẹ́lẹ̀ tí wọ́n fi ńyọ
- Literal translation
- Palm fronds do not consult with one another in advance before sprouting.
- Meaning
- Focus is critical
1200
Méèló ni èèrà tó wípé aràn ńyọ òun l'ẹ́nu?
- Literal translation
- How big is the ant that claimed that it's being ailed by worms?
- Meaning
- Decrying inordinate arrogance