Chiasmus, pronounced ky-AZ-mus.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures, not necessarily repeating the words.
An example is the famous quote by John F. Kennedy: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.’
Barak Obama used the following quote: “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
In the movie, The Dark Knight, Harvey Dent says, “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”
Memorable mirroring emphasizes the contrast and enhances the impact of the message through symmetry and balance.
Try using chiasmus to make your statements more persuasive and memorable. It works well in motivational speeches, advertising, and any situation where you want to leave a lasting impression with your words.
