Chiasumus, also known as antimetabole, is a somewhat symmetrical expression like John F. Kennedy’s famous “Ask not what your country can do for you”“ask what you can do for your country,” or “Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you.” The great philosopher Alfred E. Neuman bequeathed to us a bit of wisdom with a somewhat similar structure: “We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Chiasmus and Antimetabole”
We’ve talked before about anti-metabole.
That’s a sentence like, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Also called chiasmus from the Greek word for ex.
Well, I found another great example of this that I wanted to share with you.
We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons.
Not exactly the same thing, but sort of.
That’s true. Who said that?
The great philosopher Alfred E. Newman.
Nice. What, me?
Were you?
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