Yorùbá proverbs
121
Ààtàn tí kò bá gba ẹ̀gbin, kò ní kún bọ̀rọ̀.
- Literal translation
- A dunghill that's intolerant of filth won't be filled up easily.
- Meaning
- Intolerance imposes limitations
122
Ààtàn tí ò bá gba ẹ̀gbin, ò ní kún bọ̀rọ̀
- Literal translation
- A dunghill that's intolerant of filth won't be filled up easily
- Meaning
- Intolerance imposes limitations
123
Ààtàn tí ò bá gba ẹ̀gbin, ò ní kún bọ̀rọ̀.
- Literal translation
- A dunghill that won't tolerate filth, won't be filled up easily.
- Meaning
- Tolerance is crucial.
124
Ààtàn tó bá máa kún, á gba ẹ̀gbin mọ́'ra.
- Literal translation
- A dunghill that would be filled up would be tolerant of filth.
- Meaning
- No one is, nor indeed can be, perfect: it is human to err - be tolerant; intolerance constrains our growth: have a large and forgiving heart.
125
Aáyán tó ba ṣi ijó jó, a máa fi ara káṣá adìyẹ.
- Literal translation
- A cockroach that dances unconscionably, may fall prey to the hen's sword.
- Meaning
- Even in a good thing, moderation is crucial; immoderation can exact hefty fees.
126
Àbá làá kó dànù; ẹnìkan kì í kó aláàbá dànù.
- Literal translation
- You may only discard a suggestion, but not the one who made it.
- Meaning
- A case against ad hominem; question and attack ideas not personalities
127
Àbá ni ikán ńdá; ikán ò lè mu òkúta.
- Literal translation
- The termite is merely wishful, it cannot sting the stone.
- Meaning
- Refers to empty threats
128
Àbàtà takété bí ẹni pé kò bá odò tan.
- Literal translation
- The marshy place keeps aloof as if it is unrelated to the river.
- Meaning
- When the going gets tough, pretty few will stick with you: mentally prepare for this; everybody loves the winner, but when you lose, you are on your own
129
Abẹ́ igi tí àá sinmi sí, a kì í gé ẹ̀ka rẹ̀
- Literal translation
- One shouldn't cut off the branches of a tree, in whose shade one'd rest.
- Meaning
- Think before you act
130
Abẹ́rẹ́ á lọ kí ọ̀nà okùn tó dí.
- Literal translation
- The needle will go through before the path is blocked for the thread.
- Meaning
- Pointed focus secures progress
131
Abẹ́rẹ́ tó bá lókùn n'ìdí kì í sọnù
- Literal translation
- A needle affixed with a thread never gets lost
- Meaning
- Those under authority (God or man) seldom go astray
132
Abẹ́rẹ́ tó nínú ogún ológún.
- Literal translation
- A needle (if shared with one) is enough out of someone else's inheritance.
- Meaning
- Be content with what you have
133
Abinúfùfù ni í ńwá oúnjẹ fún abinúwẹ́rẹ́wẹ́rẹ́.
- Literal translation
- The quick-tempered person will serve the mild-tempered one.
- Meaning
- The virtue of patience
134
Àbùkún layé gbà.
- Literal translation
- The world (seeks and) rewards only those who make it better.
- Meaning
- Energetically seek to make life better, in some respect, for as many as possible and you won't be in want
135
Àdàbà ńpa ògèdè bí ẹni pé ẹyẹlé ò gbọ́, ẹyẹlé gbọ́, tí tiri ló ńtiri
- Literal translation
- The dove chants incantations believing that the pidgeon is oblivious of them; the pidgeon is quite aware, but simply ignores them.
- Meaning
- Be forward-looking; those with wicked intents ultimately self-destruct
136
Àdàbà ò náání à ńkùn'gbẹ́; pápá ńjó ẹyẹ oko fò lọ.
- Literal translation
- The dove is unmoved by the bush being set on fire; once on fire, it simply flies away.
- Meaning
- Be strategic; in every situation, always have an assured plan B: it engenders calm in the midst of a storm
137
Àdàbà ò náání à ńkùn'gbẹ́; pápá ńjó, ẹyẹ oko fò lọ.
- Literal translation
- The dove is unmoved by the bush being set ablaze; once the bush is on fire, the dove simply flies away.
- Meaning
- Be strategic; have an assured plan B, always: it engenders calm in the midst of a storm
138
Àdàbà ò náání àńkùn'gbẹ́, pápá ńjó ẹyẹ oko fò lọ.
- Literal translation
- The dove has no regard for the bush being set on fire; once the bush is aflame, the bird would simply fly away.
- Meaning
- Be strategic; always have a plan B.
139
Àdán tó sùn sí ìdí ọsàn, kò rí he, bèlèté odídẹrẹ́ tó lóun jí dé.
- Literal translation
- The bat that slept by the orange tree found none (to eat), yet the parrot complained it came early.
- Meaning
- Make hay while the sun shines; be prompt to exploit opportunities.
140
Àdán tó sùn sí ìdí ọsàn, ò rí he, bèlèté odídẹrẹ́ tó lóun jí dé.
- Literal translation
- The bat, which slept by the orange tree found no orange; yet, the parrot that came at dawn grumbled.
- Meaning
- Make hay while the sun shines; be quick to exploit opportunities: time waits for no one