Part 1: On humility, self-control, self-knowledge, self-respect, and self-restraint

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Pamí-nkú obìnrín ṣorí bẹmbẹ sọ́kọ.
A masochistic woman hardens her head against her husband.
(Obstinacy only invites harsh punishment.)

Pátápátá alágbẹ̀dẹ ò ju ilé àrọ lọ.
The most one can expect of the blacksmith is confined to the smithy.
(There is a limit to a person's bragging.)

Pẹ̀lẹ́ larẹwà ńrìn; jẹ́jẹ́ lọmọ ọlọ́jà ńyan. [88]
Carefully is the manner in which a beautiful person walks; gently is the manner in which a prince steps.
(Gently and carefully is the best manner to take life.)

Pẹ̀lẹ́-pẹ̀lẹ́ nijó àgbà; ara gbogbo ló di àkísà tán.
An elderly person's manner of dancing must be very gentle, because the whole body has become worn to a rag.
(Elderly people should not over-exert themselves.)

Pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀ Ìjèṣà, ó ta sẹ́ni lára kò wọ́n.
The mud of the Ìjèṣà: it splashes on one and will not be washed off.
(Disgrace is not easily washed away.) [89]

89. Most probably this is a riddle doing double duty as a proverb. The riddle, Pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀ ọ̀nà Ìjàyè, atasíniláramáwọ̀ọ́n (The mud along Ìjàyè way that splashes on one and cannot be removed), has as its solution, facial scarification.  [Back to text]