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A bu omi lámù a rí eégún; kí ni ẹni tó lọ sódò lọ pọnmi yó rìí?
We scoop water from the water pot and see a masquerader; what will the person who goes to draw water at the river find?
(If a person exposed to minimal risk cries disaster, what would the person exposed to much greater risk do?)

A fún ọ níṣu lỌ́yọ̀ọ́ ò ńdúpẹ́; o rígi sè é ná?
You are given yams at Ọyọ and you rejoice; have you secured wood to cook them?
(Never assume that a propitious beginning assures a successful conclusion.) [2]

A ki ẹsẹ̀ kan bọ odò omi fà á; bí a bá wá ti mejèèjì bọ́ ọ́ ńkọ́?
One dips one leg into the stream and the water tugs at it; what if one had dipped both legs into it?
(Repercussions should not be disproportionate to the act.)

A kì í bá ẹlẹ́nu jìjà òru.
One does not fight at night with a braggart.
(Never get into a competition with a braggart unless a witness is present.)

A kì í bú ọba onígẹ̀gẹ̀ lójú àwọn èèyàn-án ẹ̀.
One does not insult a king with a goitre in the presence of his people.
(Never expose yourself to repercussions with careless speech or indiscreet behavior.)

A kì í du orí olórí kí àwòdì gbé tẹni lọ.
One does not fight to save another person's head only to have a kite carry one's own away.
(One should not save other's at the cost of one's own safety.)

A kì í fi ìkánjú lá ọbẹ̀ gbígbóná.
One does not eat scalding stew in a hurry.
(Patience is best in delicate or difficult matters.)

A kì í gbélé gba ọfá láìlọ ogun.
One does not sit at home, not go to war, and yet be shot with an arrow.
(One should be safe in one's own home.)

A kì í kánjú tu olú-ọrán; igba ẹ̀ ò tó-ó sebẹ̀.
One does not gather olú-ọrán mushrooms in haste; two hundred of them are not enough to make a stew.
(Certain tasks demand patience if they are to come out right.)

A kì í rídìí òkun; a kì í rídìí ọsà; ọmọ-oní-gele-gele kì í jẹ́ kí wọ́n rídìí òun.
One never sees the bottom of the ocean; no one ever sees the bottom of the lagoon; a well-bred woman will never expose her buttocks to anyone.
(People should not expose their innermost secrets to all and sundry.) [3]

A kì í rójú ẹni purọ́ mọ́ni.
One does not look into the eyes of a person and still tell a lie against that person.
(It is always easier to do evil to people when they are absent.)

A kì í sọ̀rọ̀ orí bíbẹ́ lójú ọmọdé; lọ́rùnlọ́rùn ni yó máa wo olúwa-a ẹ̀.
One does not speak of a beheading in the presence of a child; otherwise his gaze will be fixated on the neck of the person concerned.
(Never discuss a secret in the hearing of a person whose behavior will give the secret away.)

À ńgba òròmọ adìẹ lọ́wọ́ ikú, ó ní wọn ò jẹ́ kí òun jẹ̀ láàtàn.
One struggles to save the chick from certain death, and it complains that one is preventing it from foraging at the dump.
(Chicks foraging at the dump are easy prey for kites.)

A níṣẹ́ iṣẹ́ ẹ, o ní ò ńlọ sóko; bó o bá lọ sóko ò ḿbọ̀ wá bá a nílé.
You are told that a job is your responsibility and you say you are on your way to the farm; you may be on your way to the farm, but the job will be there on your return.
(One may devise stratagems to defer carrying out one's duties, but they are unlikely to make others carry them out.)

À ńṣa kẹ́kẹ́, aájò ẹwà ni; à ḿbàbàjà, aájò ẹwà ni.
Marking one's face with kẹ́kẹ́ is a quest for beauty; marking one's face with àbàjà is a quest for beauty. [4]
(The pains one takes to adorn oneself are for a good end.)

Yoruba Proverbs

On consideration, kindness, and thoughtfulness