Chiasmus Corner

Have you ever been intrigued by John F. Kennedy’s famous quote, Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country? Perhaps you are familiar with the late great Mae West’s observation, It’s not the men in my life, it’s the life in my men! If so, then you have already been introduced to two examples of a chiasmus. Once awakened to these chiastic phrasings, it’s almost impossible to become unaware of them. They await discovery, whether it be a line in a book, a motto, a lyric line, part of a comedian’s routine . . . or absolutely anywhere and everywhere a lover of language might leave a mark.

It's not having what you want, It's wanting what you've got - Cheryl Crow, Soak Up the Sun lyric

When the power of love conquers the love of power then the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

Where there is Peace, there is Culture; Where there is Culture, there is Peace - Nicholas Roerich

You don’t have time; time has you! - George Carlin, Phoenix performance, 1978

I often tune in to a long-running radio show on my 6 a.m. weekday morning commute where a daily call-in contest is featured. A new weekend evening talk show on the same radio station, hosted by Bob Earley, invites the public to share their views on various topics of interest. Bob has already attracted a strong following of regular callers. Recently, the host of the morning show, Stan Piatt, urged his own listeners to try and win the contest by stating, You don’t have to be an Earley star-caller to be a star-caller early!

For more chiasmi visit www.drmardy.com. There you’ll find genius wording entertained by an entertaining word genius!

Feel free to post chiasmus discoveries from now on - under the heading of Chiasmus Corner!