If you know what chiasmus is and already appreciate its unique character, you needn't read further. But if like me, you're discovering this rhetorical device for the first time, it's like finding a hidden treasure. We've all heard chiasmi (yes, that's the plural) used in speeches, lyrics of songs, and comedy routines, but until now I didn't recognize them by name. So let me introduce you to chiasmus and get ready for fun!

Chiasmus (ky-AZ-mus) is the repetition of similar words in reverse sequence to make a noteworthy point. Chiasmus shows up in ancient Sanskrit, Chinese, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian texts — so it's not new. Here's an example Socrates wrote in 395 BC: "Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.” In 1665 Molière shortened it to, "One should eat to live, not live to eat."  Either way the turn of phrase catches your attention and makes you think. The best way to build appreciation for this twist of words called chiasmus is to see an assortment of examples. Here are some from recent times. As you read them, you'll likely recognize the quote, the author, or both.

"Ask not what your country can do for you,
ask what you can do for your country.” — John F Kennedy

"Suit the action to the word,
the word to the action."— Shakespeare

"People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example
than by the example of our power." — Bill Clinton

"This is about principled compromise,
not compromised principle." — John Hume    

"My job is not to represent Washington to you,
but to represent you to Washington." — Barack Obama

"In the end, the true test is not the speeches a president delivers;
 it’s whether the president delivers on the speeches. — Hillary Clinton

"Let us never negotiate out of fear,
 but let us never fear to negotiate."  — John F Kennedy

    
Chiasmus makes ideas thought-provoking and memorable. It takes skill to make a point by changing the order of words in two parallel phrases. Here are some that are both clever and humorous:

"The instinct of a man is to pursue all that flies from him,
and to fly from all that pursues him." — Voltaire

"Do I love you because you're beautiful,
or are you beautiful because I love you?" — Oscar Hammerstein

"It's not the men in my life,
it's the life in my men."  — Mae West

"Never let a fool kiss you,
or a kiss fool you.”  — Mardy Grothe

"You forget what you want to remember,
and you remember what you want to forget." — Cormac McCarthy

"In the Halls of Justice,
the only justice is in the halls." — Lenny Bruce

And two that make me chuckle:

"The right to bear arms is slightly less ridiculous
than the right to arm bears."  — Chris Addison

Don't sweat the petty things,
and don't pet the sweaty things.  — Jacquelyn Small

Since I've become intrigued by this literary device I've been tempted to compose one. But something as elegant and clever as reverse parallelism is deceptively difficult. I've been working at it — scribbling on dinner napkins, brainstorming with my grandchildren, and tempting clients with the challenge. Finally, I came up with this. It's the best I can do:

"Befriend those who are kind,
and be kind to those who are friends."

If you like playing with words writing chiasmus is a challenge that's fun. Care to give it a try?

Sources: yourdictionary.com, drmardy.com