Yoruba Proverbs

[Bravebold]

Báa gún iyán, táa ro ọkà fún kòfẹ́kògbà, kò ní fẹ́, kò ní gbà, náà ni
Even if one pounds yam and prepares yam flour meal for a difficult fellow, he'll yet remain difficult.
(Regardless of what you do or say, a difficult fellow can't but be irrational; do your best & move on)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Gbogbo ẹni tó di ojú kọ́ ló ńsùn; gbogbo ojú tí a là sílẹ̀ kọ́ ló ńríran.

Not all those who closed their eyes are sleeping; not all eyes that are wide open are seeing.
(Appearance can be deceptive; look beyond the obvious, always.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ọmọ ọ̀lẹ làyè ò lè gbà, ibi gbogbo ló gba alágbára. /
Only a lazy person has issues coping, every situation suits a diligent fellow, just fine.
(Diligence pays; often a diligent, 'can do' attitude does make a way, where it seems none exists.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Olójú kan kì í mọ'yì Ọlọ́run à fi tí nǹkan bá gbọ̀n si. /
A person with a bad eye is seldom thankful to God, until a speck enters the good one.
[Attitude of gratitude is it; we must remain ever grateful.]

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Bí kùkùté ṣé kéré tó, kò sí ẹni tó lè fi ẹsẹ̀ fà á tu.

As small as the tree stump is, no one can uproot it with the foot.

(Judge nothing by its appearance; underestimate nothing; what we deem inconsequential may well pack a hefty punch.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

A kì í fura sí ẹni tí a ńbá rìn; ẹni tí a bá ńfura sí, a kì í bá irú wọn rìn.

Do not be suspicious of those you associate with; those you'd be suspicious of, should not be your close associates.

(Build trust; avoid paranoia; be positive and forward-looking.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Bó lé lógún ọdún táa ti fi adẹ́mun jọba, kò ní yé ọrùn ọ̀pẹ ẹ́ wò.

Even after 20 years of being crowned a king, the palmwine tapper won't cease gazing at the palm tree with nostalgia.

(Old habits die hard.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ọ̀rẹ́ ọdún mẹ́ta ò tó ẹni tí à ńgbára á lé; ọ̀tá oṣù mẹ́fà ò tó ẹni tí à ńsà lóògùn.

A friend of three year is not one to be fully trusted; an enemy of six months is not one to be attacked with charms.

(Be perceptive and be measured; avoid jumping to.hasty conclusions.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Bí imú asín bá gùn, ẹnu ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ kọ́ ló yẹ ká ti gbọ́.

Even if the moonrat has a long nose, it is not the place of the pig to point it out.

(Don't meddle: mind your own business; don't criticise others with far less issues than you are grappling with.)

[Bravebold]

Ìbàjẹ́ ènìyàn, kò lè dá iṣẹ́ Olúwa dúró.

The nefarious acts of man cannot scuttle the plan and purpose of God.

(Keep hope alive; man cannot be more than man, yet God remains God; keep moving forward, undeterred.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ojú tó rí ibi tí kò fọ́, ire ló ńdúró de.

The eyes that saw evil and did not go blind are waiting to see good.

(The best is yet to come; keep hope alive.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ìwà rere lẹ̀ṣọ́ ènìyàn.

Good character is what adorns a man.   

(Good character beautifies; it is adorable and attractive; bad character is repulsive.)

[Bravebold]

[Bravebold]

Ìgbà tí ijó bá yẹ'ni là ńkúrò lójú agbo.

When the ovation is loudest is the time one quits the dance floor.

(There is a right time for everything: know the signs of the times; know when to quit: never overstay your welcome.)

[Bravebold]

Ẹni a fẹ́ la mọ̀, a ò mọ ẹni tó fẹ́'ni.

You do know who you love for sure, but you cannot be certain of who really loves you.

(Be perceptive; things are often not as they appear.)

[Bravebold]

Tí a bá ní ká tì í kó dúró; tí a bá tì í tó bá ṣubú, ńkọ́?

If we intend to push it to stand; what if we push it and it falls?

(Think well before you act; don't be presumptuous; things often have the propensity not to go as planned: why moderation is crucial in everything.)

[Bravebold]