Yorùbá proverbs
1261
Odò tó ńṣàn kìí bojú wẹ̀hìn
- Literal translation
- A flowing river never 'looks' back (or flows backward).
- Meaning
- Being positive and forward-looking
1262
Odò tó ńṣàn, kì í b'ojú w'ẹ̀hìn.
- Literal translation
- A flowing river never 'looks' back (or flows backward).
- Meaning
- Be positive; be forward-looking.
1263
Òdú ni; kì í ṣe àìmọ̀ olóko.
- Literal translation
- It is 'odu' (a vegetable); it is not strange to the farmer.
- Meaning
- Refers to a familiar matter
1264
Ọdùnkún ì báà mọ tíńtín, dandan ni kó dùn dé'lẹ.
- Literal translation
- Even if sweet potato is just a tiny bit, it certainly must be sweet, all through.
- Meaning
- We remain true to who we really are deep down, ultimately; we can hardly pretend to be who we are not for long.
1265
Ọ̀dùnkún ì báà mọ tíńtín, dandan ni kó dùn dé'lẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- Even if sweet potato is just a tiny bit, it certainly must be sweet, all through.
- Meaning
- We remain true to who we really are deep down, ultimately; we can hardly pretend to be who we are not for long.
1266
Ogbe orí àkùkọ, kì í ṣe mímọ̀ ọ́n ṣe àkùkọ; Elédùà ló dá àkùkọ lọ́lá.
- Literal translation
- The cock did not acquire its comb by dint of its prowess; it is the blessing of God.
- Meaning
- Be modest and thankful; our blessing are not necessarily from our efforts, but from God
1267
Ogbe orí àkùkọ, kì í ṣe mímọ̀ ọ́n ṣe àkùkọ; Ọlọ́run ló dá àkùkọ lọ́lá
- Literal translation
- The comb on the head of the cock was not acquired by it's prowess; it is the blessing of God.
- Meaning
- Be modest & thankful; our blessings are more from God than from our individual knowhow
1268
Ogbe tí àkùkọ fi ńṣakọ ni kọ̀lọ̀kọ̀lọ̀ fi ńpanu.
- Literal translation
- The comb, an object of pride to the cock, is a mere snack to the fox.
- Meaning
- Different strokes for different folks; what matters to one may well be of no consequence to another.
1269
Ọgbọ́n àgbọ́njù ni í pa òdù ọ̀yà.
- Literal translation
- Unbridled craftiness is what kills the grasscutter.
- Meaning
- Craftiness and unmoderated mental sharpness can prove costly; any strength not suitably controlled and moderated easily becomes a weakness and a liability.
1270
Ọgbọ́n àgbọ́njù ni ńpa òdù ọ̀yà.
- Literal translation
- Unbridled craftiness is what kills the grasscutter.
- Meaning
- Crafty people eventually self-destruct
1271
Ọgbọ́n àgbọ́njù, ni í pa òdù ọ̀yà.
- Literal translation
- Unbridled craftiness is what kills the grown grasscutter.
- Meaning
- Crafty people eventually self-destruct; pursue a win-win scenario rather
1272
Ọgbọ́n díẹ̀, òmùgọ̀ díẹ̀, l'ọba fi ńto ìlú.
- Literal translation
- Applying a little wisdom and a little stupidity is how a king administers his kingdom.
- Meaning
- There's some sense in nonsense; often, what seemed stupid could well be a reflection of untold wisdom
1273
Ọgbọ́n ju agbára lọ.
- Literal translation
- Wisdom is better than strength..
- Meaning
- Pursue wisdom
1274
Ọgbọ́n kìí tán láyé ká wa lọ ọ̀run.
- Literal translation
- Wisdom can't be so exhausted in the world that one will go for it in heaven.
- Meaning
- Wisdom can be acquired.
1275
Ọgbọ́n kìí tán láyé kí a wa lọ ọ̀run
- Literal translation
- Wisdom can't be so exhausted in the world that one will go looking for it in heaven.
- Meaning
- No impossibility
1276
Ọgbọ́n layé gbà.
- Literal translation
- To live in this world (successfully), requires wisdom.
- Meaning
- Wisdom is critical
1277
Ọgbọn ọgbọ́n, ẹ̀sọ̀ ẹ̀sọ̀, làgbà fi ńsá fún màlúù
- Literal translation
- It is with wisdom & patience that an elder runs from a cow
- Meaning
- Patience unties knotty issues
1278
Ọgbọ́n ọlọ́gbọ́n ni kì í jẹ́ kí a pe àgbà ní wèrè.
- Literal translation
- By adopting wise counsels from others, elderly persons generally avoid looking foolish.
- Meaning
- Be humble to take lessons from anyone; it's what matured people do
1279
Ọgbọ́n pẹ̀lú sùúrù la fi ńmú erin wọ̀'lú
- Literal translation
- It will take both wisdom and patience to get an elephant into the city.
- Meaning
- Complex issues can be resolved; let the elders arise and speak: calm frayed nerves, comfort the land and chart the post- path forward
1280
Ọgbọ́n pẹ̀lú sùúrù, la fi ńmú erin wọ ìlú.
- Literal translation
- Both wisdom and patience are required to take an elephant into a city.
- Meaning
- Solving a complex problem requires not just wisdom, but patience as well; exceptional outcomes take time.