Yoruba Proverb Treasury-gctid23042

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í fi ìka ro etí, ká fi ro imú, ká wá tún fi ta ehín.

One does not use one's finger to clean one's ear passages, use it to pick one's nose, and then use it to pick one's teeth.
(One should always behave with decorum.)

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í fini joyè àwòdì ká má lè gbádì[ch7865].

One cannot be given the title "eagle" and yet be incapable of snatching chickens.
(One should be able to live up to expectations.)

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í fi orí wé oríi Mokú[ch7779]iré*; bí Mokú kú láàárò[ch61481] a jí lálé[ch61481].

One does not liken one's fortune to Mokú[ch7779]iré's; if Mokú dies in the morning. he resurrects at night.
(Never emulate people who know tricks you don't.)
*The name Mokú[ch7779]iré translates to "I play at dying."

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í fi pàtàkì bé[ch61481] èlùbó[ch61481]; [ch7865]ni bá ní[ch7779]u ló [ch324] bé[ch61481] [ch7865].

One does not come by yam-flour because of one's importance; only people who have yams can make yam flour.
(One cannot eat one's importance.)

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í gbé sàráà k[ch7885]já-a mo[ch769][ch803][ch7779]álá[ch7779]í.

One does not carry alms beyond the mosque.
(Excess brings disgrace.)

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í gbó[ch61481] "Lù ú" lé[ch61481]nu àgbà.

One never hears "Beat him/her up" in the mouth of an elder.
(Elders resolve disputes; they do not goad disputants on.)

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í gbó[ch61481]n ju [ch7865]ni tí a máa dÍfá fún.

One cannot be wiser than the person for whom one will consult the Ifá oracle.
(It is better to listen to the supplicant rather than put words in his/her mouth.)
Compare the two that follow.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í gbó[ch61481]n tó "Èmi-lóní-i."

One cannot be as wise as "I-am-the-owner."
(One should not presume to know as much about something as the owner.)
Compare the preceding two entries.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í gbó[ch61481]n tó [ch7865]ni tí [ch324] tan 'ni j[ch7865].

One is never as wise as the person deceiving one.
(The deceiver always has the advantage of the dupe.)

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í gbó[ch61481]n tó Báyìí-ni-N-ó-[ch7779]e-n[ch768]nkan-àn-mi.

One cannot be as wise as "This-is-how-I'll-do-with-my-own-thing."
(Never impose your preferences on other people in their own affairs.)

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í jayé [ch7885]ba k'á [ch7779]u sára.

One does not so luxuriate in one's majesty that one shits on oneself.
(Lack of moderation and decorum will bring disgrace to even the most elevated person.)

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í j[ch7865] oyè [ch7865]nu ò[ch61481]nà kalé[ch61481].

One does not bear the title of gatekeeper even until night time.
(As one advances in age, so should one's responsibilities advance in gravity and importance.)

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

http://libtextcenter.unl.edu/yoruba/index.html

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í kó èlé [ch7779][ch803]è[ch7779]ó[ch61481].

One does not live fashionably on borrowed money.
(Live within your means.)

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A kì í kórira ò[ch61481]fó[ch61481]n-ò[ch61481]n ká finá b[ch7885] ahéré.

One does not so hate the bush rat that one sets one's farm hut alight.
(One should not destroy oneself simply to get at one's enemy.)