Yorùbá proverbs
1281
Ọgbọ́n tó bá fo igi tó bá fo ọ̀pẹ, ẹ̀hìnkùlé agọ̀ ló máa rébọ́ sí
- Literal translation
- To inordinately project wisdom is to unduly reflect stupidity
- Meaning
- Be moderate
1282
Ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ dúdú ò yá á bùṣán, ọmọ burúkú ò yá lùpa.
- Literal translation
- As it is tough to take a bite of an unripe plantain, so it is tough to beat a stubborn child to death.
- Meaning
- Complex situations can hardly be addressed with unduly radical actions
1283
Ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ dùn tó bá pọ́n, sùgbọ́n tó bá pọ́n láàpọ́njù, oúnjẹ ni fún ẹyẹ oko.
- Literal translation
- Banana is sweet when ripe, but it would become food for the birds, if it becomes overripe.
- Meaning
- Be moderate.
1284
Ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ dùn tó bá pọ́n, ṣùgbọ́n tó bá pọ́n láàpọ́njù, oúnjẹ ni fún ẹyẹ oko.
- Literal translation
- Banana is sweet when ripe, but it will become food for the birds, if it's overripe.
- Meaning
- Be moderate, even in good things; immoderation, quite often, can be costly
1285
Ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ ẹ́ dùn tó bá pọ́n, ṣùgbọ́n tó bá pọ́n láàpọ́njù, oúnjẹ ni fún ẹyẹ oko.
- Literal translation
- Banana is sweet when ripe, but if it's overripe, it will become food for the birds.
- Meaning
- Even in a good thing, moderation is crucial.
1286
Ogun àsọtélè kì í pa arọ.
- Literal translation
- A war announced well in advance never kills the lame.
- Meaning
- Be proactive
1287
Ogun àsọtẹ́lẹ̀ kì í pa arọ.
- Literal translation
- A war announced well in advance never kills the lame.
- Meaning
- Being proactive
1288
Ogun àsọtẹ́lẹ̀, kì í pa arọ, tí arọ ọ̀hún bá gbọ́n.
- Literal translation
- A war announced well in advance won't kill a lame, if the lame is wise enough.
- Meaning
- To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
1289
Ogún ọdún tí ebí ti ńpa ọ̀gà, ìrin fàájì ò kúrò lẹ́sẹ̀ ẹ rẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- For the twenty years that the chameleon has been in hunger, it has not ceased its leisurely gait.
- Meaning
- Slowness is not indicative of lack of enthusiam nor is it a proof of indolence: people are simply different.
1290
Ogún ọmọdé kì í ṣeré gba ogún ọdún; ọgbọ̀n àgbà kì í ṣàṣàrò fún ọgbọ̀n oṣù.
- Literal translation
- Twenty youngsters cannot play together for twenty years as thirty elders cannot hold discussions for thirty months.
- Meaning
- Change is inevitable; anticipate and prepare for it.
1291
Ohun a fi ẹ̀sọ̀ mú kì í bàjẹ́ ohun a fi agbára mú ní ńni'ni lára.
- Literal translation
- What is handled with calmness hardly presents issues; what is forcefully addressed is what comes with much stress.
- Meaning
- Be patient; don't force issues before their time
1292
Ohun ọwọ́ mi ò tó, màá fi gọ̀ǹgọ̀ fàá, àbùkù ni í mú kan'ni.
- Literal translation
- To inordinately quest after what is evidently beyond one's reach is to court shame.
- Meaning
- Contentment is it; live within your means; be wary of greed
1293
Ohun tí a bá bò ló ńníyì.
- Literal translation
- What's covered up (or made scarce) is what gets treated with honour.
- Meaning
- Familiarity breeds contempt
1294
Ohun tí a bá bò, ló ńníyì.
- Literal translation
- Whatever is covered up (or not easily accessible) is what is respected and honoured.
- Meaning
- Familiarity breeds contempt: whatever is easily available typically loses value and worth
1295
Ohun tí a bá fi àbòsí kó jọ, kì í pẹ́ túká.
- Literal translation
- Whatever is gathered through hypocrisy, hardly takes long to scatter.
- Meaning
- Diligence pays.
1296
Ohun tí a bá fi sílẹ̀ lẹnu ewúrẹ́ ńtó.
- Literal translation
- What is left unattended, is what the goat's mouth can get to.
- Meaning
- Ultimately, we lose whatever we neglect.
1297
Ohun tí a bá fun sí fèrè ni fèrè máa fun síta.
- Literal translation
- It's what one blows into a trumpet, that the trumpet blows out.
- Meaning
- Garbage in, garbage out
1298
Ohun tí a bá gbìn la óò ká.
- Literal translation
- What we sow is what we reap.
- Meaning
- What you give is what you get
1299
Ohun tí a bá ṣe lónìí, ọ̀rọ̀ ìtàn ni bó d'òla.
- Literal translation
- Whatever we do today, will become history tomorrow.
- Meaning
- Let's be mindful of our legacy.
1300
Ohun tí a fi í níyì ni a fi í tẹ́.
- Literal translation
- It is what brings honour that also brings disgrace.
- Meaning
- Moderation is crucial in all things