Yoruba Proverbs

[Bravebold]

Ìwà lẹ̀sìn; bí a bá ṣe mọ̀ ọ́ hù ni í ṣeé gbe'ni.

Character is like religion; how good one's character is, that is how well it favours one. 

(Good character attracts good fortune; bad character repels it.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ẹni tó fẹ́ bá ẹni tó wà lórí ẹṣin dọ́gba, aá tiro.

Whoever wants to level up with someone who is on a horse will be compelled to stand on his or her tiptoe.

(Run your race, in your lane: compare yourself with no one; you don't know anyone's story.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Kò sí oore táa lè ṣe fún ọ̀bọ yóò padà fa'ni láṣọ ya gbẹ́yìn ni.

No matter how good you are to the monkey, it will still end up tearing your clothes, eventually.

(Never cast your pearls carelessly; never expend your best resources on the weakest of opportunities.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Àgùtàn tó bá ńjẹun lẹ́hìn ọgbà òun lọwọ́ ìkokò ńtó.

The sheep that ventures to graze outside of the pen is the one that the wolf gets to pounce on.

(Learn to say No: self-discipline shields against high risks; avoid intolerably high risks.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ìkòkò tó bá ti lómi nínú lọmọ aráyé ńpọn omi kún, kó ba lè tètè kun.

A pot that already contains some water is the one that people further fill with water, so that it can be filled up quickly.

(No one invests where there is little potential for success; self-development is it.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

A kò gbọdọ̀ dọ̀bálẹ̀ bá baba pa àgbọ̀nrín láàárọ̀, kí a tún wá kúnlẹ̀ bá ọmọ pa àparò lálẹ́

One shouldn't prostrate to help a father kill an antelope in the morning and have to kneel to help his son kill a partridge in the evening.

(Be fair; take advantage of no one.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Bí a bá ta ará ilé ẹni lọ́pọ̀, a kì í rí i rà lọ́ọ̀wọ́n ọ́n mọ́.

Once you sell a relation cheaply you can no longer repurchase him or her expensively.

(Once you cheapen any of your own before others, you can no longer successfully praise him or her before them.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Àdàbà ò gbé oúnjẹ sí ẹnu òrofó; oníkálukú ló ńgbé oúnjẹ sí ẹnu ara rẹ̀.

The dove does not feed the wild pigeon; each has to feed itself.

(Take responsibility; push yourself and pursue your goals by yourself; don't expect anyone to do this for you.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Yóó ṣẹ, kò ṣẹ, àdúrà yá ju èpè; tí àdúrà bá mọ bí orí èékánná, ó yá ju èpè agbọ̀n kan lọ.

Whether answered or not, prayers are better than curses; if a prayer isn't more than the tip of a finger nail, it is better than a basket-full of curses.

(Good always trumps evil.)

[Bravebold]

Ẹ̀rẹ̀kẹ́ l'ẹran dùn mọ; kò dé'nú.

The sweetness of meat does not go beyond the cheeks; it doesn't get to the stomach.

(Some things are superficial, gratifying only for a moment; they hold no such promise for long; don't focus on trivialities: don't major on minor.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Bí ìgbà bá ńgbá'ni ká máa rọ́'jú; bó pẹ́, bó yà, ìgbà ḿbọ̀ wá gba'ni.

If a season is not favourable,  persevere; no matter how long it takes, good times will soon come.

(Persevere and keep hope alive; tough times won't last forever; change is inevitable.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ẹyẹ tó bà lórí igi tí ò ké, ẹ̀yìn ọ̀rọ̀ ló ńrò.

A bird that perched on a tree, but made no sound was simply mindful of the consequences.

(Actions come with consequences: pause and think about the consequences before acting.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ìgbà ò lọ bí òréré; ayé ò lọ bí ọ̀pá ìbọn.

No season goes on endlessly; life isn't always as straight as the barrel of a gun.

(Change is inevitable: one season must go and another comes; no season lasts forever.)

[Bravebold]

Ọsàn tó rí gbajúmọ̀ tí ò bọ́, ẹyẹkẹ́yẹ ló máa fi jẹ.

An orange fruit that refused to be plucked by a famous person would get eaten by just any bird.

(Promptly identify and take advantage of opportunities; at times, to be unduly fussy is to end up worse)

[Bravebold]

*Kàkà kí ọmọ Olóore jìn sí kòtò, Walahi Mọ̀nàmọ́ná á ṣiṣẹ́ ìmọ́lẹ̀ Ni:*

*_#Translation:_*
Instead of the child of a good man to fall into a ditch lightening from above will shine on his path.

*Moral Lesson:*
Keep being good to those around you; if enemy makes any attempt to harm you or your family members, God will raise helpers to stand and shield you. Amen 🤲

Anu Ọlọrun kòní jina s'iwa Laṣẹ Èdùmàrè🙏

_A kú Ojumọ o, Asiku Opin Ose Wikendi_ 👍

*IRE KABITI L'EEDE GBOGBO WA LASE ELEDUMARE. ASE (AFOGBOHUN)* 🙏

[Bravebold]