Yorùbá proverbs
1481
Onísùúrù ló lè fún wàrà kìnìún.
- Literal translation
- Only a patient person can milk a lioness.
- Meaning
- Be wary of impatience when faced with a complex and high-risk issue; with patience, virtually nothing is impossible
1482
Onísùúrù ló ńfún wàrà kìnìún.
- Literal translation
- Only a patient person can get to milk a lioness.
- Meaning
- With patience, tough tasks often become achievable.
1483
Oókan ni wọ́n ńta ẹṣin lọ́run, ó ku ẹni ti yóò lọ rà á.
- Literal translation
- Horses sell for one kobo each in heaven, but who's prepared to go buy it?
- Meaning
- Benefits should be matched against associated risks; any benefit that comes with intolerably high risks easily loses it’s appeal
1484
Oore kéré, oore tóbi, oore loore yóò máa jẹ́.
- Literal translation
- Whether small or big, a kind act remains a kind act (and deserves to be recognised as such.)
- Meaning
- Be appreciative and remain grateful; never discount favours received; never repay good with evil.
1485
Òòrùn tó kù lókè tó aṣọ gbẹ.
- Literal translation
- The sun as is, is good enough to dry clothes.
- Meaning
- What one has is good enough to start with
1486
Òòrùn tó kù lókè tó aṣọ ọ́ gbẹ.
- Literal translation
- The (hours of) sunlight remaining is still good enough to dry clothes.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive and give no room to despair; keep working with what you have, right where you are: it's not over yet
1487
Òótọ́ korò, ṣùgbọ́n bí a bá gbé itọ́ ọ rẹ̀ mì, a máa ṣe ara lóore.
- Literal translation
- Truth is bitter, but beneficial, if it can be swallowed.
- Meaning
- Truth may be inconvenient, but it results in ultimate good, if embraced.
1488
Ọpẹ́ ló yẹ ẹrú.
- Literal translation
- Gratitude is what befits a slave (or anyone).
- Meaning
- One should maintain a heart of gratitude, always!
1489
Ọpẹ́ olóore, àdáàdátán ni.
- Literal translation
- The gratitude to one's benefactor ought to know no end.
- Meaning
- Having a heart of gratitude and remaining grateful
1490
Ọ̀pọ̀ ló fẹ́ láàpa láì lápá, bí èèyàn ò sì lápá, kò leè láàpa.
- Literal translation
- Many want to make a mark without effort, yet without effort, no marks can be made.
- Meaning
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained; there's always a price tag: be willing to pay it.
1491
Ọ̀pọ̀ ló fẹ́ lápa láì lápá, béèyàn ò sì lápá, kò leè lápa.
- Literal translation
- Many want to make a mark without effort, yet without effort, no marks can be made.
- Meaning
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
1492
Ọ̀pọ̀ ló fẹ lápa láì lápá, bí èèyàn ò sì lápá, kò leè lápa.
- Literal translation
- Many want to make a mark without effort, yet without effort, no marks can be made.
- Meaning
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
1493
Ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ gbé ọmọ sílẹ̀ ó gbé ọkọ pọ̀n, ó lọ́rọ̀ ọkọ bàǹtà banta ni.
- Literal translation
- The frog dropped its baby to back its mate, saying husbands are crucial.
- Meaning
- Love is powerful; virtually nothing is impossible or irrational, where love exists
1494
Ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ gbé ọmọ sílẹ̀ ó gbé ọkọ pọ̀n, ó lọ̀rọ̀ ọkọ bàǹtà banta ni.
- Literal translation
- The frog dropped its baby to back its mate. "Husbands are crucial", it said.
- Meaning
- Love is powerful; love can rationalise what may seem irrational.
1495
Ọ̀rẹ́ ẹ mí só, èmi náà yóò só; olúwarẹ̀ yóò kàn ṣu sára ni.
- Literal translation
- My friend farts, I must fart; you will simply end up defecating on yourself.
- Meaning
- Stay in your lane and embrace your uniqueness; be secure in who you are: don't compare yourself with anyone.
1496
Orí bíbẹ́ kọ́ loògùn orí fífọ́.
- Literal translation
- Decapitation is not the antidote for headache.
- Meaning
- Moderation is it; adopt radical measures with caution.
1497
Orí bíbẹ́ kọ́ ni oògùn orí fífọ́
- Literal translation
- Decapitation is not the antidote for headache.
- Meaning
- Moderation is critical; radical actions require caution
1498
Orí bíbẹ́ kọ́ ni oògùn orí fífọ́.
- Literal translation
- Decapitation is not the antidote for headache.
- Meaning
- Moderation is it; adopt radical measures with caution.
1499
Orí bíbẹ́, kọ́ ni oògùn orí fífọ́.
- Literal translation
- Decapitation is not the antidote for headache.
- Meaning
- Moderation is it; adopt radical measures with caution
1500
Orí ejò lè kéré, ṣùgbọ́n kò ṣe é fi họ imú.
- Literal translation
- The head of a snake may be small, but it is not to be used to scratch the nose.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive; underestimate nothing and no one.