Yorùbá proverbs
1561
Ọwọ́ tó bá dilẹ̀ ni wọ́n fi ńlẹ́rán.
- Literal translation
- It is an idle hand that gets placed on the cheek.
- Meaning
- Idleness exposes one inappropriately.
1562
Owó tóbi, ṣùgbọ́n kò tó èèyàn
- Literal translation
- Money (or wealth) is crucial, but it's nothing like human relationships.
- Meaning
- Networks are superior to wealth
1563
Owó tóbi, ṣùgbọ́n kò tó èèyàn.
- Literal translation
- Money is crucial, but it's nothing like human relationships (or networks).
- Meaning
- Relationships are crucial.
1564
Ọ̀wọ́n irin ni í mú abẹ́rẹ́ wọ iná.
- Literal translation
- Scarcity of iron is why a needle gets dipped into the blacksmith forge.
- Meaning
- When the preferred is not available, the available often becomes the preferred; we make do with what we have when we can't have what we want
1565
Owú pa'ni ju kùmọ̀ lọ.
- Literal translation
- Jealousy kills faster than cudgels.
- Meaning
- Jealousy in whatever form is unhealthy: tame it; be secure in who you are and what you have
1566
Òwú tí ìyá bá gbọ̀n ni ọmọ yóò ran.
- Literal translation
- The (harvested) cotton the mother fluffs is the one her daughter spins.
- Meaning
- Let's be mindful of what we do: those who look up to us, often take off from where we left off; like father, like son; like mother, like daughter.
1567
Ọyẹ́ ló ńkìlọ̀ fún onítòbí; ebi ló ńkìlọ̀ fún ọ̀lẹ.
- Literal translation
- Harmattan will ultimately reprove the wearer of the short under-skirt; hunger will ultimately reprove the indolent.
- Meaning
- The resulting negative consequence will ultimately reprove whoever is engaged in a vice.
1568
Oyún kì í pẹ́ nínú, kí á fi bí ẹrú
- Literal translation
- That a pregnancy is prolonged does not make the baby a slave.
- Meaning
- Delay is no denial
1569
Pátá pátá là ńfọ́jú, kùnà kuna là ńdẹtẹ, ojú àfọìfọtán ìjà ló ńmú wá.
- Literal translation
- Affliction of blindness and leprosy should be total; partial blindness does give rise to contention.
- Meaning
- No half measures.
1570
Pé a lágbára bí òmìrán, ìyẹn ò ní kí a jà bí òmìrán.
- Literal translation
- That you are as powerful as a giant, does not imply that you should fight like one.
- Meaning
- Be tempered: just because you can, does not mean you should; cooler heads should always prevail.
1571
Pé ẹja bí ọmọ, kò ní kó máà gbé ọmọ náà mì.
- Literal translation
- That a fish produces fishlings, does not stop it from eating them.
- Meaning
- Be perceptive and wise.
1572
Pẹ̀lẹ́pẹ̀lẹ́ la ńpa àmúkùrù ẹpọ̀n.
- Literal translation
- It is with gentleness and caution that one kills the black ant lodged around the scrotum.
- Meaning
- A delicate matter must be gently and carefully handled.
1573
Pẹ́pẹ́yẹ ńlérí lásán ni, kò ní kọ.
- Literal translation
- The duck is simply being pretentious; it won't crow.
- Meaning
- Be undaunted; most things we worry about never happen
1574
Pípẹ́ ni yóò pẹ́, akólòlò á pe "Baba
- Literal translation
- It may be long but the stammerer will say "Father", eventually.
- Meaning
- If we won't quit, we'll win.
1575
Pípẹ́ ni yóò pẹ́, akólòlò á pe "Baba".
- Literal translation
- It may be long, but the stammerer will eventually call "Father".
- Meaning
- Be persistent; don't let go.
1576
Pírí l'olongo ńjí; a kì í rí olókùnrùn ẹyẹ lórí ìtẹ́.
- Literal translation
- Robins wake up in a snap; you'll never find a sick one cocooned in its nest.
- Meaning
- Diligence is it: be on the go; the diligent hardly whines and is seldom tardy
1577
Pírí l'olongo ńjí. A kìí rí olókùnrùn ẹyẹ lórí ìtẹ́
- Literal translation
- Robins wake up in a snap. You won't find a sick bird lying on its nest
- Meaning
- Not being lazy
1578
Rí'rú omi òkun kò ní k'ẹ́ja má sùn, kó má han'run.
- Literal translation
- The storms of the sea won't stop the fish from sleeping and snoring.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive
1579
Rí'rú omi òkun, kò ní kí ẹja má sùn, kó má han'run.
- Literal translation
- The storms of the sea won't stop the fish from sleeping and even snoring.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive.
1580
Rírí tí a rí igún la fi ńta igún lọ́fà
- Literal translation
- It's how the vulture appeared that caused arrows to be shot at it
- Meaning
- Appearance influences experience