Yorùbá proverbs
1461
Ọmọdé kò lè mọ ẹ̀kọ jẹ kó má ráa lọ́wọ́
- Literal translation
- A child cannot be so good at corn meal and not soil his hands.
- Meaning
- Youngsters are not beyond mistakes
1462
Ọmọdé ò l'áyà akẹ́bọjẹ; àgbàlagbà ò l'érìgì àá fi j'obì.
- Literal translation
- A child lacks remarkable courage; an (aged) elderly person lacks the molar teeth to eat kolanuts.
- Meaning
- Team spirit is it; no one has it all, but together we complement one another
1463
Ọmọdé ò lè mọ ẹ̀kọ jẹ, kó má ráa lọ́wọ́
- Literal translation
- A child can't be good at eating corn meal and not soil his hands with it.
- Meaning
- No one is above mistake
1464
Ọmọ́dé tó fi àárọ̀ gba kámú, ìṣẹ́ ni yóò paá
- Literal translation
- A youngster who is complacent early in his life, toys with penury
- Meaning
- No complacency; be diligent
1465
Ọ̀mọ̀ràn ní ńmọ oyún ìgbín
- Literal translation
- Only a person of knowledge will know when a snail is pregnant.
- Meaning
- Seek knowledge; it confers privileges and power
1466
Ọ̀mọ̀ràn ní ńmọ oyún ìgbín.
- Literal translation
- Only a person of knowledge will know, when a snail is pregnant.
- Meaning
- Knowledge confers privileges & power
1467
Ọ̀nà kan kò wọ ọjà.
- Literal translation
- It is not just one route that leads to the market.
- Meaning
- Alternative approaches exist
1468
Ọ̀nà kan ò w'ọjà.
- Literal translation
- It is not just one route that leads to the market.
- Meaning
- Alternative approaches exist.
1469
Ọ̀nà kan ò wọ ọjà.
- Literal translation
- Not just one route leads to the market.
- Meaning
- Alternative approaches exist; there are many ways to achieve an end; don't be fixated on one
1470
Ọ̀nà ló jìn ẹrú ní baba
- Literal translation
- The slave came from a home as well, he is simply far from it
- Meaning
- The disadvantaged is human, as well
1471
Ọ̀nà ò ní jìn kó má lóòpin
- Literal translation
- A road (or route) cannot be so far and not have an end.
- Meaning
- Nothing lasts forever; keep hope alive
1472
Ọ̀nà ò ní jìn kó má lóòpin.
- Literal translation
- No matter how far a road is, it will undoubtedly have an end.
- Meaning
- Nothing lasts forever; keep hope alive
1473
Ọ̀nà tí èèyàn tọ̀ tó ṣubú, bí èèyàn bá ní sùúrù, èyàn lè tọ̀ ọ́ là.
- Literal translation
- A path that one treads and fails, with patience, one may tread it to success.
- Meaning
- No closed case and no impossiblity: be patient, be steadfast and be persistent
1474
Ọ̀nà tí èèyàn tọ̀ tó ṣubú, bí èèyàn bá ní sùúrù, èyàn lè tọ̀ọ́ là.
- Literal translation
- A path that one treads and fails, with patience, one may well tread it to success.
- Meaning
- No closed case and no impossibility: if you won't give up, you will win; be open-minded, be patient and be persistent.
1475
Òní la rí kò sẹ́ni tó mọ̀la.
- Literal translation
- It is today (the present) we all see, no one knows tomorrow (the future).
- Meaning
- Write off no one
1476
Òní la rí, kò sí ẹni tó m'ọ̀la.
- Literal translation
- Today is what we all know; no one knows tomorrow for certain.
- Meaning
- No one can predict the future for certain: write off no one, including yourself; remain positive and hopeful, always
1477
Òní la rí, kò sí ẹni tó mọ̀la.
- Literal translation
- We are only certain of today; no one knows tomorrow.
- Meaning
- Write-off no one; it is not over.
1478
Oníbárà ńbá olè é bọ̀; a fún un lówó tán, ó tún ńyọjú wọlé.
- Literal translation
- The street beggar, still peeking into the house even after collecting his alms, is clearly beside himself.
- Meaning
- Contentment is it.
1479
Oníbàtà ló ńfojú di ẹ̀gún; ẹni táa bá fẹ́ ló ńfojú dini.
- Literal translation
- Those with shoes easily despise thorns; those we love easily take us for granted.
- Meaning
- Knowledge breeds power and disarms fear; we hadly fear who or what we know inside out.
1480
Onírúurú ọ̀bẹ làá rí ní'jọ́ ikú erin.
- Literal translation
- Upon the death of the elephant, various types of knives show up.
- Meaning
- A major setback can be humbling