--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As…" description: "\"O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/william-shakespeare-4_faces_o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a_1351914.jpg" --- # O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a… ![“O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/william-shakespeare-4_faces_o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a_1351914.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/william-shakespeare-4_faces_o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a_1351914.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/william-shakespeare-4_faces_o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a_1351914.jpg) > “O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple.” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Invisible jokes are as unnoticed as a nose on a face or a weathercock on a steeple. **In simple terms:** Unseen jokes go unnoticed. Key Takeaway Make humor clear and visible. Themes humor visibility communication Mood playful thoughtful Type literary theatrical When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - writing - public speaking Key Concepts literature theatre Questions to Reflect On - How to make subtle jokes effective? - When is subtlety appropriate? A Different Perspective Subtle humor can be powerful if understood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple! My master sues to her, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a-nose-on-a-man-s-face-or-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Great men may jest with saints; 'tis wit in them; But, in the less foul profanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/great-men-may-jest-with-saints-tis-wit-in-them-but-in-the-less-foul/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [In jest, there is truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/in-jest-there-is-truth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A jest's prosperity lies in the ear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-jest-s-prosperity-lies-in-the-ear/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [His jest shall savour but a shallow wit, when thousands more weep than did laugh it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/his-jest-shall-savour-but-a-shallow-wit-when-thousands-more-weep-than/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [His jest will savour but of shallow wit, When thousands weep, more than did laugh at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/his-jest-will-savour-but-of-shallow-wit-when-thousands-weep-more-than/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A jest's prosperity lies in the ear Of him that hears it, never in the tongue Of him that makes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-jest-s-prosperity-lies-in-the-ear-of-him-that-hears-it-never-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Many a true word hath been spoken in jest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/many-a-true-word-hath-been-spoken-in-jest/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/alas-poor-yorick-i-knew-him-horatio-a-fellow-of-infinite-jest-of-most/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [When a founder has cast a bell he does not presently fix it in the steeple, but tries it with his hammer, and beats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/when-a-founder-has-cast-a-bell-he-does-not-presently-fix-it-in-the/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [Many, many steeples would have to be stacked one on top of another to reach from the bottom to the surface of the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-andersen/many-many-steeples-would-have-to-be-stacked-one-on-top-of-another-to/) [Hans Christian Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-andersen/) > [There is no family in America without a clock, and consequently there is no fair pretext for the usual Sunday medley of dreadful sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-is-no-family-in-america-without-a-clock-and-consequently-there/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [God is not attracted to mountaintops or church steeples. God is drawn to suffering, and the dark places it surfaces, which is why sharing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ablow/god-is-not-attracted-to-mountaintops-or-church-steeples-god-is-drawn/) [Keith Ablow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ablow/) > [The human mind prefers something which it can recognize to something for which it has no name, and, whereas thousands of persons carry field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fairchild/the-human-mind-prefers-something-which-it-can-recognize-to-something/) [David Fairchild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fairchild/) > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More Faces quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I've seen every one, from Motley Crue to John Denver, with tears running down my face. I had no idea everyone had such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-ve-seen-every-one-from-motley-crue-to-john-denver-with-tears/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 13,128 Faces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a-nose-on-a-man-s-face-or-a-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faces" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a-nose-on-a-man-s-face-or-a-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/william-shakespeare-4_faces_o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a_1351914.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/william-shakespeare-4_faces_o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a_1351914.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/william-shakespeare-4_faces_o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a_1351914.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As a nose on a man's face, or a weathercock on a steeple.” — William Shakespeare", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Shakespeare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible, As...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a-nose-on-a-man-s-face-or-a-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-jest-unseen-inscrutable-invisible-as-a-nose-on-a-man-s-face-or-a-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```