Yorùbá proverbs
1641
Tí ewé gbígbẹ bá bọ́ lára igi, ó ńkọ́ ewé tútù lọ́gbọ́n ni
- Literal translation
- A dry leaf that falls off a tree is a lesson to the fresh ones
- Meaning
- Be perceptive
1642
Tí èyàn bá ní sùúrù, ohun tí kò tó, ṣì ńbọ̀ wá ṣẹ́kù
- Literal translation
- If one is patient, what is insufficient will soon be excessive.
- Meaning
- Patience is crucial
1643
Tí èyàn bá ní sùúrù, ohun tí ò tó, ṣì ńbọ̀ wá ṣẹ́kù
- Literal translation
- If one is patient, what is insufficient will be in excess soon enough
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive
1644
Tí èyàn bá pẹ́ láyé á jẹran tó ju erin lọ
- Literal translation
- If one lives long enough, one would eat far more quantity of meat than an elephant
- Meaning
- Don't give up
1645
Tí èyàn kò bá ṣubú kì í mọ ẹrù ńdì
- Literal translation
- If one hasn't tripped (or failed), one won't know how to properly pack one's loads.
- Meaning
- Failure does teach.
1646
Tí èyàn kò bá tí ì dé ibi tó ńlọ, kì í dúró.
- Literal translation
- If one has not reached one’s destination, one should not stop.
- Meaning
- Keep moving; be persistent.
1647
Tí èyàn ò bá tí ì dé ibi tó ńlọ, kì í dúró.
- Literal translation
- If one has not reached one's destination, one should not stop.
- Meaning
- Keep moving; go forward; don't become a spot
1648
Tí ẹyẹ kò bá fín ẹyẹ ní'ràn, ojú ọrun tó ẹyẹ ẹ́ fò láì f'ara kan'ra.
- Literal translation
- If a bird won't seek the ill of another, the sky is wide enough for all to fly without colliding.
- Meaning
- Live and let live; always pursue a win-win scenario; no need to pull anyone down to rise.
1649
Tí ẹyẹ kò bá fín ẹyẹ níràn, ojú ọrun tó ẹyẹ ẹ́ fò láì fara kanra.
- Literal translation
- If a bird won't seek the ill of another, the sky is wide enough for all to fly without colliding.
- Meaning
- There is no need to pull anyone down to rise; the world is big and endowed enough for all.
1650
Tí ẹyẹ kò bá fín ẹyẹ níràn, ojú ọ̀run tó ẹyẹ ẹ́ fò láì fara kanra.
- Literal translation
- If a bird won't seek the ill of another, the sky is wide enough for all to fly without colliding.
- Meaning
- No one needs to go down for you to rise; see the world as endowed enough for us all, because it is.
1651
Tí ẹyẹ ò bá fín ẹyẹ níràn, ojú ọrun tó ẹyẹ ẹ́ fò láì fara kanra.
- Literal translation
- If a bird won't seek the ill of another, the sky is wide enough for all to fly without colliding.
- Meaning
- Be positive; live and let live.
1652
Tí ẹyin adìyẹ ò bá fọ́, oromọadìyẹ ò leè wáyé.
- Literal translation
- If the chicken's (incubated) egg did not crack, the chick could not have been hatched.
- Meaning
- Adversity may well be a stepping stone; keep hope alive.
1653
Tí ìgbín bá fà ìkarahun á tẹ̀ le.
- Literal translation
- If the snail crawls, its shell will follow along.
- Meaning
- Refers to soul mates or cause & effect relationship
1654
Tí igi bá ga lágajù, wíwó ni í wó.
- Literal translation
- If a tree becomes unduly tall, it will end up collapsing.
- Meaning
- Moderation is crucial in all things
1655
Tí igi bá ré lu igi t'òkè rẹ̀ là ńkọ́kọ́ gbé
- Literal translation
- If trees fall in a pile, the top ones are removed first
- Meaning
- Clear issues, from simple to complex
1656
Tí igi bá ré lugi tòkè rẹ̀ là ńkọ́kọ́ gbé
- Literal translation
- If trees fall in a pile, the top ones are removed first
- Meaning
- Clear simple issues before complex ones
1657
Tí igi ńlá ò bá wó, ọwọ́ kìí ba ẹ̀ka ẹ̀
- Literal translation
- If a big tree is not felled, its branches can't be within reach (of being cut).
- Meaning
- Effects are caused
1658
Ti imú yé imú tí imú fi ńfọn.
- Literal translation
- The nose has its reasons for being noisy (when blown).
- Meaning
- People have their reasons: give them the benefit of the doubt; be tolerant: there is some sense in nonsense
1659
Ti imú yé imú, tí imú fi ńfọn.
- Literal translation
- The nose has its reasons for being noisy when blown.
- Meaning
- People have their reasons; give them the benefit of the doubt.
1660
Ti imú yé'mú tí imú fi ńfọn
- Literal translation
- The nose has its reasons for being noisy when blown.
- Meaning
- People have their reasons; we ought to be tolerant.