hardlogic

Illustration for riddle: Whoever makes it, tells it not; whoever takes it, knows it not; and whoever knows it, wants it not. — Can you figure out this riddle?

Whoever makes it, tells it not; whoever takes it, knows it not; and whoever knows it, wants it not. What is it?

Counterfeit money

Why this works

This riddle plays on the roles associated with counterfeit money. The first part, "Whoever makes it, tells it not," suggests that counterfeiters keep their activities secret to avoid legal consequences. The second part, "whoever takes it, knows it not," implies that those who unknowingly accept counterfeit money are blissfully unaware of its illegitimacy. Finally, "whoever knows it, wants it not," indicates that once someone realizes they have counterfeit money, they would rather not have it because it’s worthless. The clever interplay of these perspectives creates a thought-provoking puzzle about deception and value!

Common Wrong Answers

“Real money”

Real money is made and used openly; the riddle specifically describes something that is made but not disclosed.

“A secret”

A secret is something that can be told or shared, unlike the item in the riddle, which is not shared by its maker.

“A lie”

While a lie may not be desired by those who know it, it can be told openly, making it inconsistent with the riddle's conditions.

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