Yorùbá proverbs
1201
Mélò lọ̀kánjúwà fẹ́ lá ńnú ọ́pọ́ iyọ́?
- Literal translation
- How much really can a greedy person lick out of a large amount of salt?
- Meaning
- Greed is needlessly wasteful
1202
Mélòó lọ̀kánjúwà fẹ́ lá ńnú ọ̀pọ̀ iyọ̀?
- Literal translation
- How much can a greedy person lick out of a large amount of salt?
- Meaning
- Greed can be needlessly wasteful
1203
Mímì lẹpọ̀n àgbò ńmì, kò lè já
- Literal translation
- The ram's testicles are merely dangling, they can't fall off.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive, no matter how tough it seems
1204
Mímì lẹpọ̀n àgbò ńmì, kò lè já.
- Literal translation
- The ram's testicles are merely dangling, they cannot fall off.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive; don't give up.
1205
Mímì lẹpọ̀n àgbò ńmì, kò leè já.
- Literal translation
- The ram's testicles are merely dangling, they cannot fall off.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive; don't give up.
1206
Mímì lẹpọ̀n àgbò ńmì; kò lè já;
- Literal translation
- The rams testicles are merely dangling; they won't fall off.
- Meaning
- Hang in there; never ever give up; tough times won't be forever.
1207
Mímì lẹpọ̀n àgbò ńmì; kò lè já.
- Literal translation
- The ram's testicles are merely dangling; they cannot fall off.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive; it's not over yet.
1208
Mo gbọ́n tán, mo mọ̀ ọ́ tán, l'agbọ́n ò ṣe l'óró bí oyin.
- Literal translation
- Wasps' claim to be the wisest and the best is why they have less potent venom than bees.
- Meaning
- Pride and arrogance limit us; recognise that no one knows it all; be willing to learn from everyone.
1209
Mo gbọ́n tán, mo mọ̀ọ́ tán, lagbọ́n ò ṣe lóró bí oyin.
- Literal translation
- Wasps' claim to be the wisest and best is why they have less potent venom than bees.
- Meaning
- Arrogance and pride do impose limitations.
1210
Mọ ìwà fún oníwà lòògùn ọ̀rẹ́.
- Literal translation
- Accepting each person's peculiar character with understanding is the lubricant for friendship.
- Meaning
- Tolerance is it; respect others: give them their spaces.
1211
Mo ṣe é tán ló níyì; a kì í dúpẹ́ aláṣekù.
- Literal translation
- I've finished it, is what is honorable; no one gives thanks for an incomplete job.
- Meaning
- Finish whatever you start; it's good to start a thing, but better to complete it
1212
Mo ti ńfo èyí, mo ti ńfo tọ̀hún lo ńmú ológbò kó sínú épo gbígbóná.
- Literal translation
- I can hop over this, I can hop over that, is how a cat ends up diving into a hot oil.
- Meaning
- Moderation is it; tone down the hubris; often, pride goes before a fall
1213
Mo yó lánàá kò kan ebi t'òní.
- Literal translation
- That one was full yesterday won't stop one from being hungry today.
- Meaning
- Life's needs recur daily.
1214
Mo yó lánàá kò kan ebi tòní.
- Literal translation
- That one was full yesterday won't stop one from being hungry today.
- Meaning
- Life's needs recur daily.
1215
Mọ̀jà mọ̀sá l'akínkanjú; akínkanjú tó bá mọ̀ọ́ jà tí kò mọ̀ọ́ sá á bá ogun lọ
- Literal translation
- A good warrior must know when to fight and when to retreat; a warrior who knows when to fight but not when to retreat will die in battle.
- Meaning
- Timing is crucial; know when to pursue, defer or quit
1216
Mọ̀jà mọ̀sá l'akínkanjú; akínkanjú tó bá mọ̀ọ́ jà tí kò mọ̀ọ́ sá á bá ogun lọ.
- Literal translation
- A good warrior must know when to fight and when to retreat; a warrior who knows when to fight but not when to retreat will die in battle.
- Meaning
- Timing is crucial; know when to pursue, defer or quit.
1217
Mọ̀jà, mọ̀sá, lakínkanjú fi ńtọ́jọ́
- Literal translation
- Knowing when to fight & when to run helps a warrior to live long.
- Meaning
- Know when to pursue, defer or quit
1218
Mọ̀kàn mọ̀kàn loyè ńkàn; oyè tó kan ará Ìwó, ó ńbọ̀ wá kan ará Ẹdẹ.
- Literal translation
- Chieftancy titles are given turn by turn; the chieftancy title given to an Iwo indigene would soon be given to someone from Ede.
- Meaning
- Life is in phases; be patient
1219
Náwó náwó kì í ṣ'àpà, ó ńfi owó ra iyì ni
- Literal translation
- The generous person is not wasteful; he is simply buying honour for himself.
- Meaning
- Good to be generous
1220
Náwó náwó kìí ṣ'àpà, ó ńfi owó ra iyì ni.
- Literal translation
- The generous person is not wasteful, he is actually buying honour for himself.
- Meaning
- Generosity pays