Yorùbá Proverbs are known to be wise sayings from the aged ones or elders which are passed through generations to teach some historical lessons, or to highlight good morals, and also to instil social values.

One of the beauty of it is the use by a younger person, whereby he or she is prohibited to in the presence of an older person, without prior permission to do such.

Enjoy some if these highlighted Yorùbá Proverbs.

1.
Ẹni tó gbé ìlù rẹ̀ kọ́ apá, ayé ńbáa lùú, áḿbọ̀tórí ẹni tó gbé tirẹ̀ kọ́ igi tó ṣeré lọ.

Translation
The person who hung his drum on his elbow still had the drum beaten by others, not to mention someone who hung his on a tree (branch) and walked away.

Moral
No complacency.

2.
Òkò tí a bá bínú jù, kì í pa ẹyẹ.

Translation
A bird is seldom killed by a stone thrown in anger.

Morals
Actions taken in anger seldom achieve desired results; tone down the fury: it can be self-defeating.

3.
Kò sí bí imú ṣe lè tóbi tó, kó lè gba ọ̀rọ̀ ẹnu sọ.

Translation
No matter how big the nose is, it can't take over the speaking role of the mouth.

Morals
We all are unique with our different strengths; envy no one: stay in your lane.

4.
Ẹnu ẹyẹ ni í pẹyẹ; ẹnu òrofó ni í pa òrofó; òrofó bímọ mẹ́fà, ó ní ilé òun kún ṣọ́ṣọ́.

Translation
The mouth of a bird is its undoing; the wild pigeon hatches just six chicks and brags that its nest is completely filled up.

Morals
Modesty is it; inordinate bragging can be risky.

5.
Ìwà ọ̀lẹ ló ńba ọ̀lẹ lẹ́rù; ọ̀lẹ ṣe tán, ó ní wọn ò fẹ́ràn òun.

Translation
An indolent is preceded by his or her character, but complains that he or she is not accepted.

Morals
Our character often confronts us with unpleasant consequences; change your character to change any unwanted outcome.

6.
O rí àgbébọ̀ adìyẹ lọ́jà, o sáré sí i; tó bá ńyé ogún tó ńpa ogún, ṣé aládìyẹ á tàá?

You saw a matured hen in the market and jumped at it; had it been very good at laying and hatching, would it have been sold?

Morals
If it is too good to be true, it usually is.

Wisdom is key.

7.
Báa gún iyán, táa ro ọkà fún kòfẹ́kògbà, kò ní fẹ́, kò ní gbà, náà ni.

Even if you pound yam and prepare yam flour meal for a contentious person, he or she will yet remain contentious.

Morals
Be forward-looking, be positive; do your best and keep moving.

8.
Ààrò kì í gbóná títí kó máà tutù.

Translation
No matter how long the hearth gets hot, it will become cold eventually.

Morals
Whatever is hot will one day become cold; whatever has a beginning will have an ending: nothing lasts forever: change is certain; keep hope alive.

Thanks @op
This made me remember the good old days in secondary School back in Ogun State.
Our Yoruba teacher would make us form or learn and recite to the class.
About a week or so to this fateful day, I saw on a window an adage that sounds funny but made sense. That's what I actually presented in class.
It went this: Ṣokoto to ya lofi ẹpọn ṣe yẹyẹ.
Meaning: the private part is put to shame cos of the torned pant.

The whole class bursted into laughter. They loved it cos it was unique but I was corrected to have at least, use another word instead of the scrotum.

Another one that I love so much and that I've been using since our then Yoruba teacher said it was: "Ko sẹjọ lọwọ arọ to juwo s' abuke, ẹni tó gbé arọ ní kẹkẹ lo jẹbi".
Meaning: The crippled man isn't to be blamed when he waved at the hunchback Man, it's the one one who render help with his bicycle to the crippled man that's to be blamed.

GupbisFounder:
Thanks @op
This made me remember the good old days in secondary School back in Ogun State.
Our Yoruba teacher would make us form or learn and recite to the class.
About a week or so to this fateful day, I saw on a window an adage that sounds funny but made sense. That's what I actually presented in class.
It went this: Ṣokoto to ya lofi ẹpọn ṣe yẹyẹ.
Meaning: the private part is put to shame cos of the torned pant.

The whole class bursted into laughter. They loved it cos it was unique but I was corrected to have at least, use another word instead of the scrotum.

I appreciate your feedback

9.
Tí àdúrà bá gbà tán, apá aládúrà ò ní ká a.

Translation
When a prayer is answered, the person who prayed would be overwhelmed.

Morals
Prayers work; God's response is always so complete as to be overwhelming.

10.
Ilá kì í ga ju onírè lọ; èyí tó bá ga ju onírè lọ, a sì tẹ́ẹ ká.

Translation
An okro plant should not outgrow the farmer; whichever does will be bent low to be plucked.

Morals
Pride goes before a fall; humility is it.

11.
Ẹni tí kò tíì kúrò láyé, kò lè mọ irú ẹni tí òun yó dà.

Translation
Whoever still has life, cannot be limited in what he or she can become.

Morals
With life, there's no impossibility; it's not over yet: keep hope alive.

12.
Kí a tó dé ibi tí à ńlọ, a máa ńkọ́kọ́ dé ibi tí a kò fẹ́.

Translation
Before getting to our destination, we may have to get to where we'd rather not be.

Moral
Be focused, be strategic: always look ahead; don't lose the forest for the trees.

13.
A kì í ṣe fáàrí ẹ̀ṣẹ́ dídì, sí ọmọ adẹ́tẹ̀.

Translation
Don’t brag about fists in the presence of a leper.

Morals
Be considerate. Courteous and tactful.

Be sensitive and show empathy.

14
Àìsanra tó ajá ológìnní kì í ṣe ti àìjẹun ká'nú; bí ìran rẹ̀ ṣe mọ ni.

Translation
The smaller frame of cats' relative to dogs isn't for want of food; that's cats' genetic makeup.

Morals
Appearance can be deceptive; often, there is more than is immediately obvious.

Add yours.

15.
À fi ẹni tí yóò bá pẹ̀gàn Àjànàkú, lá lóun rí nǹkan fìrí; báa bá rí erin ká wí.

Translation
Only those who would deride the elephant would claim they saw it in a jiffy; its presence is unmistakable.

Morals
Give credit where credit is due; deride no one.

16.
Ọ̀dùnkún ì báà mọ tíńtín, dandan ni kó dùn dé'lẹ̀.

Translation
Even if sweet potato is just a tiny bit, it certainly must be sweet, all through.

Moral
We remain true to who we really are deep down, ultimately; we can hardly pretend to be who we are not for long.

17.
Ẹni sọ̀rọ̀ púpọ̀ yó ṣìsọ; àsọjù ló ńmú ìyá ọba pe ara rẹ̀ ní ìyá ọ̀bọ.

Translation
Whoever talks inordinately will misspeak; inordinate talk made the king's mother (inadvertently) referred to herself as the mother of monkeys.

Morals
Moderation is crucial; exercise self-control, always.

18
Àṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ dáyé ológbò ni í jìyà, bó bá dàgbà, á tó ọdẹ ẹ́ ṣe.

Translation
Only as a kitten is the cat in deprivation, once fully grown it can do its own hunting.

Morals
The best is yet to come; keep hope alive; tough times won't last forever.

19.
Ìjì layé; tó bá fì síwájú, á tún fì sẹ́hìn ni.

Translation
Life is a storm; if it blows forward, it will blow backward, as well.

Morals
A season goes, another comes; no condition is permanent; nothing lasts forever; keep hope alive.

20.
Àgbẹ̀ tó jẹun yó tó fọ́ akèrègbè, ti gbàgbé pé ọjọ́ òǹgbẹ ṣì ńbọ̀.

Translation
A farmer who ate, had his fill, and broke the water gourd forgot that days of thirst are still ahead.

Morals
Never slam the door on your way out: you may need it opened again; take no one and nothing for granted.

21.
Kòkòrò tó ńjẹfọ́ ara ẹfọ́ ló wá; iná tó ńjẹni ńbẹ lábẹ́ aṣọ.

Translation
The insect that is eating the vegetable is right on it; the louse living off anyone is under his or her garment.

Morals
Be perceptive, be vigilant; often the solution to an issue is closer than imagined.

22.
Bí ọ́mọdé bá ṣubú á wo iwájú; bí àgbà bá ṣubú á wo ẹ̀hìn.

Translation
Upon falling, a youngster looks ahead (for help); an elder looks back (for the cause).

Moral
Prevention is better than cure; good to look for help after a fall, but better to prevent a recurrence.

23.
Ọ̀kàndínlógún tó lóun ò bá oókan ṣe, à ti di Ogún rẹ̀ á nira.

Translation
The number 19 that refused to be added to 1 will find it tough to become 20.

Morals
Build bridges and foster collaboration; we need one another: together each achieves more.

24.
Bí a bá ní bí ejò ṣe gùn la ṣe fẹ dá'ná sun ún, à á dá'ná sun'lé.

Translation
If we were to set a snake on fire as its length is, we may burn the house down.

Morals
Moderation is it: it's wise to be tempered in our reactions; adopt drastic measures with caution.

25.
Ìjà kì í lọ lásán kí oníjà má fara pa.

Translation
Fights cannot simply occur without those involved not sustaining losses.

Morals
Seek peace: diplomacy ought to precede hostility; everybody at war loses.

26.
Oore kéré, oore tóbi, oore loore yóò máa jẹ́.

Translation
Whether small or big, a kind act remains a kind act (and deserves to be recognised as such.)

Morals
Be appreciative and remain grateful; never discount favours received; never repay good with evil.

27.
Ọgbọ́n àgbọ́njù ni í pa òdù ọ̀yà.

Translation
Unbridled craftiness is what kills the grasscutter.

Morals
Craftiness and unmoderated mental sharpness can prove costly; any strength not suitably controlled and moderated easily becomes a weakness and a liability.

28.
Eré tí ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ ńsá nínú omi gbígbóná, tó bá sáa lọ́dàn ni, kò ní wọ omi gbígbóná.

Translation
Had the frog been as fleet-footed in the fields as it is now in the hot water pot, it won't have entered the pot.

Morals
A stitch in time saves nine; be strategic: see and plan ahead.

29.
O bá ẹfọ̀n lábàtà, o yọ ọ̀bẹ tì í, ṣé omi lo rò pó mu kú ni?

Translation
You found a buffalo dead by the river bank and pulled your knife (to take some); did you think it drowned?

Morals
Be circumspect to exploit whatever seems too good to be true; don't be naive.