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A hán ìkokò lọ́wọ́ ọ̀tún, a hán ìkokò lẹ́sẹ̀ òsì; ó ku ẹni tí yó kò ó lójú.
We lop off the hyena's right fore limb; we lop off the hyena's left hind limb; the question is, who will face it now?
(Inflicting such injuries on the hyena is no victory; it only makes the animal more dangerous.)

A kì í dá ẹ̀rù okó ńlá ba arúgbó.
One should not attempt to scare an old “woman” with a huge penis.
(A person who has seen everything is not easily frightened.)
Compare Ojú tó ti rókun ò lè rọsà kó bẹ̀rù.

A kì í dùbúlẹ̀ ṣubú.
One does not fall from a prone position.
(Hunger cannot make one faint and fall if one goes to sleep.)

A kì í fi ojoojúmọ́ rí olè jà kó dà bí-i tọwọ́ ẹni.
One is never so fortunate at daily thievery that it matches owning one's own things.
(Self-sufficiency is far better than fortunate opportunism.)

A kì í fi ojú olójú ṣòwò ká jèrè.
One never trades with other people's eyes and profit.
(There is nothing like attending oneself to one's own business.)

A kì í fi ojúbọ́rọ́ gba ọmọ lọ́wọ́ èkùrọ́.
One does not easily or casually take the child from the palm-nut.
(It takes effort to accomplish a good end.) [1]

A kì í gbọ́ “gbì” ìràwé.
One does not hear the thud of a falling leaf.
(Incantatory assertion that an accident will not befall the subject.) [2]

A kì í mọ ibi tí à ńlọ kí ọrùn ó wọ ẹni.
One does not, despite knowing where one is going, suffer a constricted neck from one's heavy load.
(If one knows the size of the task, one should regulate one's effort accordingly.

A kì í sọ pé ọjà-á nígbà; bó bá nígbà, kíníṣe tí wọ́n tún ńná a?
One does not say there is a time for the market; if it were so, why would people continuously patronize it?
(Any time is a good time to trade.)

A kì í ṣe ọ̀jẹ̀ ṣe ojú tì mí; konko lojú alágbe.
One does not carry the ọ̀jẹ̀ masquerade and yet affect bashfulness; the mendicant's eyes must always be like flint.
(One must assume the attitude one's trade demands.) [3]

A kì í ṣe ọ̀tẹ̀ eranko gán-ń-gán; bí a bá he ìgbín àdá là ńnà á.
One does not conduct one's feud with an animal in a half-hearted manner; if one finds a snail one hits it with a matchet.
(Give your all to every enterprise you embark upon.)

A kì í walẹ̀ fún adìẹ jẹ.
One does not scratch the ground for the chicken to find food.
(Each person is responsible for his/her own welfare.)

“A ò mọ̀yí Ọlọ́run yó ṣe” kò jẹ́ ká bínú kú.
“We know not what God will do” keeps one from committing suicide.
(Often it is hope that keeps people going.)

A pa ẹmọ́ lóko ilá, a jù ú sí ọ̀kẹ́ ìlasa; ilé ẹmọ́ lẹmọ́ lọ.
A giant rat is killed on an okra farm and thrown it into a sack containing okra leaves; the giant rat has arrived at its home.
(The resourceful person will find a way to adapt to any situation.)

Abẹ́rẹ́ á lọ kí ọ̀nà okùn tó dí.
The needle will pass before the way of the thread is blocked.
(Unlike the thread's, the passage of the needle through the cloth is ever smooth.)

Abẹ̀wẹ̀ ńwá ọ̀tá fúnra ẹ̀.
He who summons others to render him communal help seeks enemies.
(It is best to be self-sufficient.)

Abiyamọ ọ̀tá àgàn; ẹní ńṣiṣẹ́ ọ̀tá ọ̀lẹ.
Nursing mother, enemy of the barren woman; working person, enemy of the idler.
(The mother incurs the envy of barren woman; the hard worker incurs the hatred of the idler.)

Aboyún bí, ìhá tù ú.
The pregnant woman delivered; her sides are much eased.
(Relief comes in time to the persevering sufferer.)

Àdán tó sùn sídìí ọsàn ò rí he, áḿbọ̀sì oódẹ tó ní òún jí dé.
Bat, who slept by the orange tree, found no orange to pick, let alone parrot who said it came over very early at dawn.
(The more persistent person will surely be rewarded before the less persistent.)

Adékànḿbí ò du oyè; ó bèèrè ni.
Adékànḿbí is not contesting a title; he is merely asking a question.
(One should not be coy in demanding one's rights.)

Yoruba Proverbs

On consideration, kindness, and thoughtfulness