--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a Yoruba proverb which roughly…" description: "\"There's a Yoruba proverb which roughly translates into, 'What turns its face to one person has turned its back on the other.' It's always made me think..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/ayobami-adebayo-19153_always_there-s-a-yoruba-proverb-which-roughly-t_779156.jpg" --- # There's a Yoruba proverb which roughly translates into… ![“There's a Yoruba proverb which roughly translates into, 'What turns its face to one person has turned its back on the other.' It's always made me think about how deeply subjective our experience of the world can be.” quote by Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/ayobami-adebayo-19153_always_there-s-a-yoruba-proverb-which-roughly-t_779156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/ayobami-adebayo-19153_always_there-s-a-yoruba-proverb-which-roughly-t_779156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/ayobami-adebayo-19153_always_there-s-a-yoruba-proverb-which-roughly-t_779156.jpg) > “There's a Yoruba proverb which roughly translates into, 'What turns its face to one person has turned its back on the other.' It's always made me think about how deeply subjective our experience of the world can be.” [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The proverb highlights how perspective determines allegiance, showing that focusing on one side excludes the other. **In simple terms:** Perspective determines who we favor. Key Takeaway Consider multiple viewpoints before deciding. Themes subjectivity loyalty perspective Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - decision making - conflict resolution - relationship counseling Key Concepts ethical relativism cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What does you prioritize over others? - How does this shape your relationships? A Different Perspective One view may miss broader truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Subjective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjective/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“A religious person without no job is a dead person. (Iigbagbo ti koni ise oku ni. - Yoruba proverb)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/a-religious-person-without-no-job-is-a-dead-person-iigbagbo-ti-koni/) [Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/) > [Conscious experience as such is an exclusively internal affair: Once all functional properties of your brain are fixed, the character of subjective experience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-metzinger/conscious-experience-as-such-is-an-exclusively-internal-affair-once/) [Thomas Metzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-metzinger/) > [Westerners think that all that is negative and positive is only caused from outside of themselves. They materialize and externalize their experiences, never understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thinley-norbu/westerners-think-that-all-that-is-negative-and-positive-is-only/) Thinley Norbu > [Do not be fooled by those who see you as just another consumer in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/do-not-be-fooled-by-those-who-see-you-as-just-another-consumer-in-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [It's always the balance between the individual's subjective experience and the social structural condition. As individuals we have access to more than we've ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/it-s-always-the-balance-between-the-individual-s-subjective/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > [Science does not deal with subjective experience... Well that's too bad because that is all any of us ever have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/science-does-not-deal-with-subjective-experience-well-that-s-too-bad/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Our subjective experience of time is highly variable. We all know that days can pass like weeks and months can feel like years, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/our-subjective-experience-of-time-is-highly-variable-we-all-know-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [“Going public was a difficult decision, and I had misgivings. My subjective experience was now an objective fact in the wider world. It didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/going-public-was-a-difficult-decision-and-i-had-misgivings-my/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [An artist can have an intention, but the viewer has their own subjective experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-longo/an-artist-can-have-an-intention-but-the-viewer-has-their-own/) [Robert Longo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-longo/) > [Religion is the subjective experience. Science is the objective reality. To argue either is a ridiculous waste of time and energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/religion-is-the-subjective-experience-science-is-the-objective/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [When they talk of ghosts of the dead who wander in the night with things still undone in life, they approximate my subjective experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-they-talk-of-ghosts-of-the-dead-who-wander-in-the-night-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This concept upends the way most people think about their subjective experience of life. We tend to place a lot of emphasis on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/this-concept-upends-the-way-most-people-think-about-their-subjective/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“The modern scientist attempts to step outside of himself in order to observe himself, an attempt that is always doomed to failure. You cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/the-modern-scientist-attempts-to-step-outside-of-himself-in-order-to/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [I do think that if you are trying to think empirically about the relationship between conscious experience and the underlying physical reality, wine provides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/i-do-think-that-if-you-are-trying-to-think-empirically-about-the/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [“The most scary word most people ever hear is “truth". Many tell me that truth is subjective. But is your reality a subjective experience?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/the-most-scary-word-most-people-ever-hear-is-truth-many-tell-me-that/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) ## More by Ayobami Adebayo > [Never lend people money you can't afford to give them as a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/never-lend-people-money-you-can-t-afford-to-give-them-as-a-gift/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [I must have listened to at least 10 covers of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' - Jeff Buckley's cover is usually my go-to song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/i-must-have-listened-to-at-least-10-covers-of-leonard-cohen-s/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [I wanted to explore expectations we have of people - what a woman should be, what a man should be. And if they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/i-wanted-to-explore-expectations-we-have-of-people-what-a-woman/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [I come from a part of Nigeria where a lot of value is placed on implicit communication. The 'well brought up' child is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/i-come-from-a-part-of-nigeria-where-a-lot-of-value-is-placed-on/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [In 2010, I was working in a bank in Lagos. It was a crazy job with long working hours. I had to leave for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/in-2010-i-was-working-in-a-bank-in-lagos-it-was-a-crazy-job-with-long/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [I wanted to write about extended family systems. You have people you can fall back on, and it's good. But what if you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/i-wanted-to-write-about-extended-family-systems-you-have-people-you/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [Usually, by the time I hit 'save' before taking a nap, my word count has gone down, but the world I'm creating feels more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/usually-by-the-time-i-hit-save-before-taking-a-nap-my-word-count-has/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [I think there is a dissonance between how much is expected of you as a young person, whether you are a man or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/i-think-there-is-a-dissonance-between-how-much-is-expected-of-you-as/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [When I was a child, there were two Nigerian writers in every bookshop: Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/when-i-was-a-child-there-were-two-nigerian-writers-in-every-bookshop/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [I think, for women in particular, it's kind of like you're expected to get married, have a child, and then you get to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/i-think-for-women-in-particular-it-s-kind-of-like-you-re-expected-to/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [I'm still very interested in the things that happened in the '80s and the '70s because I think that they were very important years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/i-m-still-very-interested-in-the-things-that-happened-in-the-80s-and/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [When I started working on 'Stay With Me,' I thought it would take two years to complete the novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/when-i-started-working-on-stay-with-me-i-thought-it-would-take-two/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [My mother has a lot of sisters. They had very, very interesting conversations. Because I was a quiet child, I would sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/my-mother-has-a-lot-of-sisters-they-had-very-very-interesting/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > ['Stay with Me' started out being very political, largely because I'm a little obsessed with politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/stay-with-me-started-out-being-very-political-largely-because-i-m-a/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) > [When I was in my late teens, a couple of friends passed away suddenly. This was quite distressing, but after a while, as tends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayobami-adebayo/when-i-was-in-my-late-teens-a-couple-of-friends-passed-away-suddenly/) [Ayobami Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) [Explore all 33 Ayobami Adebayo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayobami-adebayo/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's a Yoruba proverb which roughly translates into, 'What turns its face to one person has turned its back on the other.' 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