Abstract: A push button switch having a self-indicating message display includes a push button capsule for being depressed into a housing for actuating a switch mounted in the housing. The push button capsule has a legend screen with a legend indicating use of the switch and a message screen for being displayed in the "on" position of the switch. The message screen fronts a shutter blade capsule mounted in the housing, and a pair of flexible shutter blades on opposite sides of the shutter blade capsule are curved toward one another over the message screen to black out the message when the switch is in the "off" position. The legend screen has light scattering capability that can black out the legend, when desired, and prevent reading the blacked out legend even in high ambient light conditions.