Yorùbá proverbs
161
Adùn-uń-ṣe bí ohun tí Ọlọ́run lọ́wọ́ sí; aṣòroóṣe bí èyí tí Ọlọ́run kò fẹ́.
- Literal translation
- As easy to do as what God supports, and as difficult to achieve as what He opposes.
- Meaning
- If God is in it, it will work out; keep hope alive.
162
Adùn-ún-ṣe bí ohun tí Ọlọ́run ṣe tán; aṣòroóṣe bí ohun tí Ọlọ́run kò fẹ́.
- Literal translation
- As easy to do as what God has completed, and as difficult to achieve as what He detests.
- Meaning
- If God is in it, it will work out; keep hope alive.
163
Afọgbọ́nọlọ́gbọ́n ṣọgbọ́n kì í ṣìṣe.
- Literal translation
- Those who adopt the wisdom of others seldom trip.
- Meaning
- Be open and quick to learn from others
164
Afọgbọ́nọlọ́gbọ́n ṣọgbọ́n kìí tẹ́ bọ̀rọ̀
- Literal translation
- Those who are smart to adopt the wisdom of others seldom get shamed
- Meaning
- Be open to learn from others
165
Àfòmọ́ ńṣe ara ẹ̀, ó l'òún ńṣe igi
- Literal translation
- The parasitic plant hurts itself, and believes it is hurting the (host) tree.
- Meaning
- Wickedness does not pay
166
Àfòmọ́ ò légbò gbogbo igi nií bá tan
- Literal translation
- The parasitic plant has no root; it lives off all trees.
- Meaning
- Those who sponge off others are seldom loyal
167
Afọwọ́fọnná kan kì í mú ọwọ́ dúró.
- Literal translation
- No one packs live coals with his or her hands and maintain steady hands.
- Meaning
- Pursue peace: anyone with the proclivity for trouble cannot but be troubled, and vice versa; we get whatever we give, and in abundance, too.
168
Afọwọ́fọnná kì í mọ́wọ́ dúró.
- Literal translation
- Whoever packs live coals with his or her hands cannot maintain steady hands.
- Meaning
- Seek peace, always; anyone with the proclivity to foment trouble cannot but be under stress
169
Agara kì í dá oníṣẹ́ Ọlọ́run.
- Literal translation
- God's messenger never grows weary.
- Meaning
- God cannot be overwhelmed with man's needs; absolutely nothing is too hard for Him.
170
Àgbà kì í ṣe orò bí èwe.
- Literal translation
- Elderly persons should not behave childishly.
- Meaning
- Those looked upon as elders should not exude immaturity
171
Àgbà kì í wà l'ọ́jà, k'órí ọmọ tuntun wọ́.
- Literal translation
- An elder cannot be in the market place and the head of a child (backed by the mother) will be awkwardly positioned.
- Meaning
- Whatever is not working calls for urgent attention; let the elders arise and Now!
172
Àgbà ò sí ní ìdí ọ̀kẹ́rẹ́; ẹni tí yóò jẹ ẹran níláti ṣetán àti ṣe ọdẹ.
- Literal translation
- There should be no deferrence to seniority in sharing the squirrel's meat; whoever wants to partake must be prepared to hunt.
- Meaning
- Lead by example; we musn't abuse our positions
173
Àgbà ò sí ní ìdí ọ̀kẹ́rẹ́; ẹni tí yóò jẹran níláti ṣetán àti ṣe ọdẹ.
- Literal translation
- There is no seniority in sharing the squirrel's meat; whoever wants to share must be prepared to hunt.
- Meaning
- There is no shortcut to reaping, beyond sowing; we must sow, in order to reap.
174
Àgbà tó gbọ́n kì í kánjú dá ẹjọ́.
- Literal translation
- A wise elder won't judge a matter (or reach a conclusion), hastily
- Meaning
- Hasty decisions are prone to errors
175
Àgbà tó so yangan mọ́ ìdi ló sọ ara rẹ̀ di aláwàdà fún adìyẹ.
- Literal translation
- An elder who tied maize to his pants beckoned on the derision from the hen.
- Meaning
- Our experiences reflect our choices: we must tweak our choices, if we must better our experiences.
176
Àgbà tó so yangan mọ́di ló sọ ara ẹ̀ di aláwàdà fádìyẹ.
- Literal translation
- An elder who tied maize to his pants, is the one who made himself an object of derision to the hen.
- Meaning
- Action begets reaction; be mindful of your actions, they may result in reactions you least expect
177
Àgbà wá búra bèwe ò bá ṣe ọ rí
- Literal translation
- Let the elder come & swear if he has not been childishly before.
- Meaning
- Youthfulness comes with certain traits
178
Àgbàdo inú ìgò, di àwòmọ́jú fún adìyẹ
- Literal translation
- The corns kept in a bottle are viewed with disdain by the hen.
- Meaning
- What's out of reach is often despised
179
Àgbàdo inú ìgò, ó di àwòmọ́jú fún adìyẹ
- Literal translation
- The corns in a bottle are viewed with disdain by the hen.
- Meaning
- People belittle what they can' t have.
180
Àgbàdo inú ìgò, ó di àwòmọ́jú fún adìyẹ.
- Literal translation
- The corns in a bottle are viewed with disdain by the hen.
- Meaning
- People belittle what they can't have