Part 2: On perspicaciousness (good judgment, perceptiveness), reasonableness, sagacity, savoir-faire, wisdom, and worldly wisdom

W

Wàrà-wàrà là ńyọ oró iná.
When one is on fire one's reaction is extremely agile.
(One should not delay in exacting vengeance for a wrong.)
Compare Wéréwéré lọmọdé ḿbọ oko èèsì.

Wèrè-é dùn-ún wò, kò ṣé-é bí lọ́mọ.
An imbecile makes an entertaining spectacle, but one would not want one as one's child.
(One might be tolerant of simplicity or irresponsibility in other people, but not in one's own relatives.)

Wèrè-é yàtọ̀ sí wéré; wéré kì í ṣe wèrè; ìjá yàtọ̀ sí eré.
Madness differs from the singing of Islamic songs; the singing of Islamic songs is not madness; fighting is different from playing.
(One should not confuse jesting with quarrelling.)

Wéré-wéré lọmọdé ḿbọ oko èèsì.
A child's journey home from a nettle bush is fast indeed.
(Painful problems enforce quick attention.)
Compare Wàrà-wàrà là ńyọ oró iná.

Wò mí lójú, wò mí lẹ́ẹ̀kẹ́; ẹni a bá lọ sóde là ńwò lójú.
Keep your eyes on my face, and keep your eyes on my cheeks; one keeps one's eyes on the person with whom one goes visiting.
(People should not cultivate wandering eyes.)

“Wo ọmọ-ọ̀ mi dè mí”: ó ńlo kíjìpá mẹ́ta gbó; mélòó ni ọlọ́mọ-ọ́ máa lò gbó?
“Look after the child for me”: she wears three durable hand-loom wrappers to tatters; how many would the mother of the child herself wear out?
(The caretaker should not use up all his own resources for the benefit of his/her employer.)

Wolé-wolé kì í wolé agbọ́n láì tẹ́.
The sanitary inspector does not inspect a wasp's home without coming to grief.
(One should be cautious in performing one's duties.)

Wọ́n ní, “Afọ́jú, o ò tanná alẹ́.” Ó ní àtọ̀sán àtòru, èwo lòún rí níbẹ?
People said, “Blind man, you did not light a lamp.” He asked, night or day, which one would his eyes register?
(One should not waste one's efforts in procuring things one cannot use.)

Wọ́n ní, “Afọ́jú, ọmo-ọ̀ ẹ-ẹ́ pẹran.” Ó ní kò dá òun lójú, àfi bí òún bá tọ́ ọ wò.
They said to the blind man, “Blind man, you son has killed a game.” He responds that he cannot believe them until he has tasted the meat.
(Always insist on proof positive.)