What has six faces and 21 eyes but cannot see?

How to think about it

1. Six faces and no sight means the “faces” are flat sides. A cube has six of them.
2. Eyes that cannot see are dots or spots. Which cube has dots on its faces?
3. The dots on a die are sometimes called pips or eyes. Add them up: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6.
4. That sum is 21, so a single die has six faces and 21 eyes.

Why “a die” is the answer

A standard die is a cube with six faces, and the dots on them number 1 through 6, which add up to 21. Those dots are traditionally called pips, and in several languages they are called eyes, which is where the riddle gets its word. Nothing about a die can see, so the last clue is just a wink.

Common wrong answers

• A fly. Flies have compound eyes and can see very well, so the “cannot see” part fails, and they do not have six faces.
• A clock. A clock has one face, not six, and no eyes.