Yorùbá proverbs
1401
Ọlọ́gbọ́n ni í fi ọ̀ràn elòmíràn kọ́gbọ́n, òmùgọ̀ á fi tirẹ̀ kọ́gbọ́n.
- Literal translation
- It is a wise person who learns from the experience of others; fools learn from theirs.
- Meaning
- It's wise to learn from the experience of others; it's less risky and less costly
1402
Ológìnní tó sùn bí ọ̀lẹ, ọgbọ́n inú u rẹ̀ pé igba.
- Literal translation
- A cat that lies in repose, looking lazy, is yet filled with countless cunning ways.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be quite deceptive; it can prove costly to mistake calmness for naivety or gentleness for stupidity
1403
Ológùńná kan kì í rìn létí odò.
- Literal translation
- A person with a single live coal ought not to walk by the river.
- Meaning
- Being cautious
1404
Ológùńná kan kìí rìn létí odò.
- Literal translation
- Anyone who has just a single live coal ought not to be walking by the river bank.
- Meaning
- Avoid intolerable risks.
1405
Ológùńná kan, kì í rìn létí odò.
- Literal translation
- A person with a single ember ought not to walk by the river bank.
- Meaning
- Be cautious; hedge against intolerably high risks or scenarios with zero way out.
1406
Olójú kan kì í mọ'yì Ọlọ́run à fi tí nǹkan bá gbọ̀n sí i.
- Literal translation
- A person with only one good eye is seldom thankful to God, until a speck enters the eye.
- Meaning
- Attitude of gratitude is it; we all have reasons to be ever thankful.
1407
Olójú kan kì í mọ'yì Ọlọ́run, à fi tí nǹkan bá gbọ̀n sí i.
- Literal translation
- A one-eyed person is seldom thankful to God, until a speck enters the eye.
- Meaning
- Attitude of gratitude is it; be ever thankful for wherever you are and whatever you have
1408
Ọlọ́ọ̀pá èwo ni tèpè? Amúni ńjẹ́ amúni; èwo ni pé "Oò ní bọ́ ńnú ẹ̀"?
- Literal translation
- Police officer, why the curse? Arrest if you must, but why rain a curse that "You won't escape this"?
- Meaning
- Be independent; avoid conflict of interest situations.
1409
Oloore l'ore ńwọ́ tọ̀.
- Literal translation
- Kindness follows the kind-hearted.
- Meaning
- Kindness pays.
1410
Olóore l'ore ńwọ́ tọ̀.
- Literal translation
- Kindness follows the kind-hearted.
- Meaning
- Generosity pays.
1411
Ọlọ́run àdàbà náà ló dá ẹyẹlé; ẹyẹlé ńsun ilé, àdàbà ńsun ìgbẹ́.
- Literal translation
- God who created the dove also created the pidgeon; the pidgeon finds its abode in the city, while the dove dwells in the forest.
- Meaning
- God rules; He has the final say in the lives of all.
1412
Ọlọ́run ò dá kainkain kó tóbi, àtapa ni ì bá máa ta èèyàn.
- Literal translation
- God did not create the ant big for a reason; it would have been stinging people to death.
- Meaning
- Unpleasant manners, quite often, limit us; oppress no one with your privileges.
1413
Ọlọ́run ò dá kainkain tóbi; àtapa niì bá máa tèèyàn
- Literal translation
- It's for a reason that God did not create the ant big; it would have been stinging people to death.
- Meaning
- Quite often, our characters limit us.
1414
Ọlọ́run ò fẹ́ irọ́; ọmọ èyàn ò fẹ́ òdodo; bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ̀rọ̀ ò pé mẹ́ta.
- Literal translation
- God hates lies; man hates truths; yet there is no third option in a discourse.
- Meaning
- Better to stick with the truth, even when there are no easy options.
1415
Ọlọ́run tó dá ẹnu, ti dá ohun tí kálukú máa fi sí i
- Literal translation
- God who created the mouth had also created what we'd be putting into it.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive; patience is it.
1416
Ọlọ́run tó dá ẹnu, ti dá ohun tí kálukú máa fi sí i.
- Literal translation
- God who created the mouth had also created what we would all be putting into it.
- Meaning
- Worry less; keep hope alive.
1417
Ọlọ́run tó dá ẹnu, ti dá ohun tí kálukú máa fi síi
- Literal translation
- God who created the mouth had also created what we'd all be feeding it with.
- Meaning
- Worry less
1418
Ọlọ́run tó dá ẹnu, ti dá ohun tí kálukú máa fi síi.
- Literal translation
- God who created the mouth had also created what we would all be putting into it.
- Meaning
- Worry less; keep hope alive; there is no mistake with God
1419
Ọlọ́run tó ńse ọbẹ̀, kò kúrò ní ìdí ààrò.
- Literal translation
- God who is cooking the soup, has not left the kitchen.
- Meaning
- Never lose hope; nothing is beyond God.
1420
Ọlọ́run tó ńse ọbẹ̀, kò tí ì kúrò ní ìdí ààrò.
- Literal translation
- God who is cooking the soup, has not left the kitchen.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive; absolutely nothing is beyond God