Yoruba Proverbs

[Bravebold]

Àgbẹ̀ tó ro oko tí kò gbin ọkà lóun dá ikún lóró; ikún kọ́ ló dá lóró; ara ẹ̀ ló dá lóró /
A farmer who ploughed his farm, but planted no corn, claims he's hurting the ground squirrel; he really hasn't hurt any squirrel, but himself.
[Vindictive actions can be self-defeating]

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ẹyẹ tó fi ara rẹ̀ wé igún, ẹ̀yìn ààrò ni í ńsùn. /
A bird that compares itself to vultures will end up (being roasted) at the fireplace.
[Don't compare yourself to others: you don't know their stories; stay in your lane.]

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Pé a kọ́'ni, kò ní ká ṣe ìkà, bí a kò ní ìkà nínú tẹ́lẹ̀; tani ńkọ́ni kí a tó ṣe rere? /
That one was advised is no reason to be wicked, if one is not inherently wicked; who teaches us before we do good?
[Situations do not make us wicked; they only reveal who we really are]

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ojú tó máa bá'ni kalẹ́, kò ni ti àárọ̀ ṣe ipin. /
A pair of eyes that will serve one until old age won't be rheumy when one is young.
[Be perceptive; whatever won't last will show the tell-tale signs early.]

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ẹni a ṣe lóore tí kò dúpẹ́, o dabi ki ọlọ́ṣa ko ni lẹ́rù lọ ni. /
To be kind to a person who is not thankful can be likened to being robbed by a thief.
[Attitude of gratitude is it; be ever thankful.]

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Mo gbọ́n tán, mo mọ̀ ọ́ tán, l'agbọ́n ò ṣe l'óró bí oyin. /
Wasps' claim to be the wisest and the best is why they have less potent venom than bees.
[Humility is it: pride and arrogance weaken; not smart to brag and boast, regardless of your success: no one has it all made]

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Àjùmọ̀bí ò kan t'àánú; ẹni orí rán sí'ni ló ńṣe'ni lóore /
To be related to someone by blood does not guarantee receiving his or her support; help comes only from those divinely sent to one.
[Help, when it comes, may not necessarily be from expected sources; keep an open mind]

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ẹ̀sọ̀ ẹ̀sọ̀ ni ìgbín fi ńgun igi. /
Slowly and steadily is how snails climb trees.
[Patience and persistence are crucial for success.]

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Àjànàkú kọjá a mo rí nǹkan fìrí; báa bá rí erin ká wí. /
An elephant is beyond what can be said to be seen in a jiffy (its presence is unmistakable); if we've seen one, we should admit it.
(Give credit where credit is due; recognise the contributions of others.)

[Bravebold]

Tí ẹṣin bá dá'ni, a máa ńtun ùn gùn ni. /
If one is thrown by a horse, one ought to remount it again.
(If you try and fail, try again: if you don't try and keep trying, you can't win; it's not how many times you fall that counts, but how many times you get up.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Àkókò kò dúró de ẹnìkan.
Time waits for no one.
(Make hay while the sun shines; promptly exploit opportunities: there is nothing in doing nothing.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ìyànjú l'àgbẹ̀ ńgbìn, Elédùà nìkan ló mọ b'íṣu ṣe ńta.
Farmers merely sow efforts; God alone knows how the yams are formed.
(We simply do our best; the ultimate result is from God; whatever is good must be from Him.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Nínú ìkòkò dúdú ni ẹ̀kọ funfun ti ńjáde. /
Out of the black pot nonetheless comes the white corn gruel (or pap).
[Write-off no one; no matter how deplorable a situation is, good may still come out of it: always remain positive and keep hope alive.]

[Bravebold]

Bí ọmọdé bá gun òkè àgbà, ó níláti gbọ́n. /
When a youngster attains to the position of an elder, he cannot but be wise.
(Be audacious: to be exposed to higher responsibilities is to be toughened; when exposed to a swim or sink situation, most will swim.)

[Bravebold]

Ọ̀kàndínlógún tó lóun ò bá oókan ṣe, à ti di ogún un rẹ̀ á nira. / 
The number 19 that insists it won't be associated with 1, will find it tough to become 20.
[Isolation is risky: build bridges and collaborate more; we need one another: together we all achieve more.]

[Bravebold]