Part 6: On consideration, kindness, and thoughtfulness

Odot

Ọ̀gá Ìwátà, eṣú ò mọ olóòótọ́; eṣú dé, eṣú jẹ oko olóore.
Big shot of Ìwátà towń the locusts do not know who is honest; the locusts arrive and the locusts eat up the good person's farm.
(Vandals care not which property belongs to good people and which to bad people.) [14]

Ọ̀mùtí kì í ṣàpà; owó ẹ̀ ló ńná.
The drunkard is not a prodigal; it is his money that he is spending.
(One can spend one's money as one wishes.)

Ọ̀ràn-an-yàn ò sí nínúu iyánrán.
There is no compulsion in voluntary work.
(Volunteering is not an obligation.)

Ọtí gbélé ahun ó kan.
Wine stays in the home of the miser until it goes sour.
(The miser would rather see things go bad than share them with others.)

Ọ̀tọ̀ niṣẹ́ olókùnrùn.
The assignment for an invalid must be different from everybody else's.
(People should be employed only according to their capabilities.)

Ọwọ́ híhá àhájù ní ńdínà ire mọ́ni.
Excessive stinginess is what slams the door of fortune in one's face.
(Miserliness will divert good fortune from the miser's direction.)

14. Ìwá tà (ìwà-á tà) means “Character pays.”; some irony there.  [Back to text]