Definitions HQ

A Jest (n.) came ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠into the world with woman, says Constantin: man acts absolutely, woman has her being in relationships, and between such unlike beings the incongruity is jest.

A Jest (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not an aesthetic but an imperfect ethical category — like a speaker who begins eloquently, says "Hm," and then dead silence.

A Jest (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠blissful when one does one's utmost and then understands that it is little, nothing, beside love's wish; not willing to do all is a poor jest.

A Jest (n.) about ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠everything is the privilege of the man earnest at the right place — and it sends a cold shiver down the spines of the dupes of earnestness.

Jest (n.) has ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠its rightful place in the midst of life's seriousness, for whoever knows his work proves only how far it falls short of the gift will have time for innocent jesting.