18
$\begingroup$

I am a number, I've a number of names.
My name is in itself.
I am hiding in plain sight.
I am damned if I don't and damned if I do.
(Perhaps this riddle would be better if it rhymed...)

Update:

"I am a number" is not meant to be taken literally. The answer is not a number.

Additional clues:

I am a master of many, choosing to become a slave.
My spirit belongs to another, my face to another still.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
2
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Is the last line part of the riddle? $\endgroup$
    – Mario Garcia
    Commented Jul 19, 2016 at 10:51
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @MarioGarcia Yes. $\endgroup$
    – Yehuda Shapira
    Commented Jul 19, 2016 at 12:02

6 Answers 6

Reset to default
18
$\begingroup$

You are

Jean Valjean - 24601

I am a number, I've a number of names.

24601, Mayor of town, Jean Valjean

My name is in itself.

Jean valjean

I am hiding in plain sight.

He's a Mayor, he's known by everyone in town yet still manages to hide

I am damned if I don't and damned if I do.

Quoting from "Who am I" which is a song from musical Les Misérables: "If I speak, I am condemned. If I stay silent, I am damned!"

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ That's a good answer, but not the droid I'm looking for :) Also, the "rhyme" section is sorta part of the riddle, and so is the "I'm not sure myself" in the title. $\endgroup$
    – Yehuda Shapira
    Commented Jul 19, 2016 at 6:30
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @YehudaShapira Edited. $\endgroup$
    – Lafexlos
    Commented Jul 19, 2016 at 13:20
  • $\begingroup$ +1 In hindsight it makes perfect sense but safe to say I would have never guessed this. $\endgroup$
    – DasBeasto
    Commented Jul 19, 2016 at 18:24
13
$\begingroup$

Are you

The number 2

I am a number, I've a number of names.

2 is also known as couple, pair, duo.

My name is in itself.

Two contains 't and o'. to.

I am hiding in plain sight.

We have two eyes which we use to see, but we don't see our two eyes.

I am damned if I don't and damned if I do.

Two choices.

(Perhaps this riddle would be better if it rhymed...)

Couplets are a common form of rhyme consisting of two line endings in sequence.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ This is a really good answer, too. I realized now that my riddle is misleading, and updated it accordingly. $\endgroup$
    – Yehuda Shapira
    Commented Jul 19, 2016 at 12:06
6
$\begingroup$

Are you

"I"?

I am a number, I've a number of names.

"I" is also the roman numeral of 1.

My name is in itself.

The letter "i" is in the word, "itself."

I am hiding in plain sight.

The letter "i" is also in the words "plain" and "sight."

I am damned if I don't and damned if I do.

You are "I," either way.

(Perhaps this riddle would be better if it rhymed...)

A little stumped on how this one would fit, except that "i" is in riddle, but only the "i" sound is in "rhymed" - and the sounds of the words are one of the elements of rhyme.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ I quite like this answer. It took a more literal approach. $(+1)$ $\endgroup$
    – Mr Pie
    Commented Jun 29, 2018 at 4:04
4
$\begingroup$

You are

A mythological little person

I am a number, I've a number of names.

Goes by many names. Gnome, Dwarf, Munchkins etc

My name is in itself.

My name in in 'itself' - elf

I am hiding in plain sight

A common trope, eg. The Hobbit, The Elf and the Shoemaker

I am damned if I don't and damned if I do.

Not a race of Humans so no matter what they have no otherworldly salvation

(Perhaps this riddle would be better if it rhymed...)

Another Elf helper trope. eg. Oompa Loompas

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
$\begingroup$

You are

The word "in"

My name is in itself:

Rather, you are "In", itself

I am hiding in plain sight:

The word "in" is in the sentence as well as hiding at the end of the word "plain".

I am damned if I don't and damned if I do:

As in, are you in or are you out.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • $\begingroup$ I've added spoilers. Don't do that again please. $\endgroup$
    – user64742
    Commented Jul 19, 2016 at 22:24
  • $\begingroup$ Welcome to Puzzling! Good answer! c: $\endgroup$
    – Deusovi ♦
    Commented Jul 20, 2016 at 0:07
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @TheGreatDuck: Spoilers are not required. $\endgroup$
    – Deusovi ♦
    Commented Jul 20, 2016 at 0:08
  • $\begingroup$ @Desouvi Yes they are! There have been posts removed in the past for no spoilers! It is a rule! $\endgroup$
    – user64742
    Commented Jul 20, 2016 at 1:13
1
$\begingroup$

You are

Magic, a number, a trick

Hiding in plain sight

Slight of hand, misdirection, illusion

Master of many, choosing to be a slave

Magic takes practice, you need to master it to be good, yet it's a tool to be used

Although there's a correct answer chosen already, I thought my answer still fits.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.