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PROVERBS.
98. He who cannot
lift an ant, and yet tries to lift an elephant, will find out his
folly. wwwwwwwwwwww
99. He who tries to shake the trunk of a tree only shakes himself.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
100. The world is the ocean and mankind is the lagoon. However well
a man can swim he cannot cross the world. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
101. When the eya (a wild cat) has reached to the ferocity
of the leopard he will kill animals to feed on. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
102. The cry of the bird does not reach the sky. ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
103. The pot-lid is always badly off, for the pot gets all the sweet
and the lid nothing but the steam. ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
104. A slave is not the child of a tree (i.e., made of wood). When
a slave dies his mother hears nothing of it, but when a free man
dies there is mourning; yet the slave, too, was once a child in
his mother's house. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
105. As the yam-flour was once a soft unripe yam, so was the slave
once a child in his father's house. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
106. Birth does not differ from birth; as the free man was born
so was the slave. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
107. You find a hen in the market and hasten to buy her. Had she
been worth keeping the owner would not have sold her. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
108. A hunchback is never asked to stand up straight. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
109. When the hawk hovers the fowl-owner feels uneasy. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
110. No one carrying elephant-beef on his head should look for crickets
underground. aaaaaaaaaa
111. No one should draw water from the spring in order to supply
the river. qqqqqqqqqqqqqq
112. If you are not able to build a house at once, you first build
a shed. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
113. If one has not an adan (a large kind of bat), one
sacrifices an ode (small bat). qqqqqqqqqq
114. If one is carrying water, and it gets spilt, so long as the
calabash is not broken one can still get more. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
115. He runs away from the sword and hides himself in the scabbard.
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116. The sword shows no respect for its maker. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
117. The spoon, seeing death, ventures his head into it. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
118. Leprosy, desiring to disfigure a man, attacks the tip of his
nose. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
119. No one should ask the fish what takes place on the land, nor
should the rat be asked what takes place in the water. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
120. A rock is the father of stones. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
121. Two rams cannot drink out of the same calabash. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
123. No one will throw away antelope-venison to pick up squirrel-meat.
qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
124. When the spider intends to attack you it encircles you with
its web. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
125. The deaf look with surprise at a speaker's mouth. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
126. Although you are about to die, need you split up the mortar
for firewood? qqqqqqqqqqqq
127. "To-day I am going; tomorrow I am going," gives the
stranger no encouragement to plant the ahusa (a plant which
bears fruit very rapidly). xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
128. What good have the gods done to the hunchback that he should
name his child Orisagbemi (the gods have blessed me)? ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
129. He who does not understand the cry of the palm-bird (ega)
complains of the noise it makes. fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
130. A large cock, crowing in the middle of the night, settles the
dispute (as to what the time is). ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
131. A lame man said the load on his head was not properly balanced,
and was told "Its unevenness began from the ground" (i.e.,
from his lame leg). rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
132. When the bush is on fire the pigeon leaves the grass; when
the fire is extinguished everyone returns home. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
133. The aro does not bear its load for ever; sooner or later it
will put it down.
(The aro is the hearth, or fire-place, consisting of three rounded
cones of clay, between which the fire is lighted, and on which the
cooking-pot rests) qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
134. He who begs with importunity will obtain what he wants. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
135. The pond stands aside, as if it were not related to the river.
qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
136. When a Mohammedan is not pinched with hunger he says, "I
never eat monkey." qqqqqqqqqqq
137. If you send no one to the market the market will send no one
to you. wwwwwwwwwwww
138. There is no tallness among pigeons; they are all dwarfs. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
139. No one would expose fowls on the top of a rock in sight of
a hawk. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
140. The rat does not show his companion the hole in the roof. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
141. You cannot shave a man's head in his absence. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
142. A bald-headed man does not care for a razor. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
143. A mouth not keeping shut, and lips not keeping close, bring
trouble to the jaws. qqqqqqqq
144. With the forefinger one takes up the sauce. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
145. A chicken having been delivered from death (i.e., from the
hawk), complained because it was not allowed to feed openly on the
dust-heap. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
146. The dog that is known to be very swift is the one chosen to
catch the hare. qqqqqqqqqqqq
147. If the dog has his master behind him he will not be afraid
of the baboon. qqqqqqqqqqqqqq
148. An old dog cannot be taught new tricks. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
149. The butcher pays no regard to any particular breed of animals.
qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
150. A rogue never closes the mouth of his wallet. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
151. Working in competition quickens the hands. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
152. He who goes into a river may fear, but the river does not fear.
qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
153. No one confesses that he has eaten yam with a knife that is
missing. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
154. A fool of Ika and an idiot of Iluka meet together to make friends.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
155. The palm of the hand deceives no one. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
156. No matter how well an idol is made, it must have something
to stand on. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
157. Thanks are due to the shoulders, which keep the shirt from
slipping off. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
158. As one is walking, so is he met. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
159. If the stomach is not strong, do not eat cockroaches. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
160. If a man powerful in authority should ill-treat you, smile
at him. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
161. He who claps hands for a fool to dance is no better than the
fool. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
162. The thumb cannot point straight forward. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
163. The trader never acknowledges that he has sold all his goods.
When asked, he will only say, "Trade is a little better."
qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
164. A fugitive does not stop to pick the thorns from his foot,
neither does he make choice of his sauce. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
165. Never take hold of a man who has a drawn knife in his hand.
qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
166. By labour comes wealth. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
167. Odofin tells a bigger lie than Aro.
Aro says he dropped his needle in the water;
Odofin says he heard the splash of it. dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
168. A knife cannot be so sharp as to sharpen its own handle. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
169. Number one always precedes number two. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
170. He who waits to see a crab wink will tarry long upon the shore.
qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
171. The butterfly that brushes against thorns will tear its wings.
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172. If an orisa would kill a man for cooking an unpalatable soup,
what would become of those who cook nothing at all? qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
173. A rat that has a navel is a witch. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
174. That which a child likes never injures its stomach. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
175. Quick loving a woman means quick not loving a woman. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
176. One cannot show darkness by, pointing it out. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
177. Ropes are entangled when goats are tied to the same post. qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
178. We say, "Know it who can." The knower will know.
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179. Without bad news there is no sadness of heart. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
180. The dove would not eat the ground-nuts, or the crow the white
beans. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
181. Health is the stepping-stone to wealth. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
182. Dada cannot fight, but he has a brave brother. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
183. As a girl is, so is her "head-money."
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