Skip to content

Never Let a Fool Kiss You...or a Kiss Fool You: Chiasmus & A World of Quotations
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Never Let a Fool Kiss You...or a Kiss Fool You: Chiasmus & A World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say Hardback - 1999

by Grothe, Mardy


Summary

What do Mae West, John F. Kennedy, Victor Hugo, and H. L. Mencken have in common? They all indulged in chiasmus-a literary device in which word order is reversed to hilarious or poignant effect. When Mae West said, "It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men," she was using chiasmus; when John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," he was doing the same. Dr. Mardy Grothe has compiled hundreds of examples of chiasmus in this whimsically illustrated collection, bringing this witty and thought-provoking device out of obscurity and into the public imagination.

From the publisher

Pardon me -- do you know what chiasmus means? Here's a hint: Mae West used chiasmus in her signature line "It's not the men in my life; it's the life in my men." So did John F. Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

Language maven Dr. Mardy Grothe discovered that many of the world's great wags and eloquent orators have been virtual masters of chiasmus -- Churchill, Wilde, Shaw, Ben Franklin, Samuel Johnson, and Shakespeare, to name just a handful. In this unprecedented and quotable collection, he assembles the best examples of chiasmus ever written or spoken. Not since the oxymoron, the palindrome, or An Exaltation of Larks has there been a whole new category of wordplay so likely to fire the public imagination. In the tradition of Woe Is I and The Transitive Vampire, Never Let a Fool Kiss You ... will make chiasmus a household word and help you wax profound in the company of the greatest wits of all time.

Details

  • Title Never Let a Fool Kiss You...or a Kiss Fool You: Chiasmus & A World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say
  • Author Grothe, Mardy
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 126
  • Publisher Viking Adult, New York, New York, U.S.A.
  • Date 1999-07-01
  • ISBN 9780670878277
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780670878277
ISBN 10
0670878278
Quantity Available
1
Seller
WINDBER, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$2.99
$4.49 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Viking Adult, 1999-07-01. Hardcover. Good. 0.7000 in x 8.2000 in x 5.5000 in.
Item Price
$2.99
$4.49 shipping to USA
Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780670878277
ISBN 10
0670878278
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$5.00
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
$5.00
FREE shipping to USA
Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

by Mardy Grothe

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780670878277
ISBN 10
0670878278
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$5.93
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Viking Adult. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. Very Good dust jacket. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain a few markings such as an owner’s name, short gifter’s inscription or light stamp.
Item Price
$5.93
$3.99 shipping to USA
Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

by Grothe, Mardy [Contributor]

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Like New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780670878277
ISBN 10
0670878278
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Belmont, Massachusetts, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.08
$4.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Viking Adult. hardcover. Like New. 8x0x5. This book may be an ex-library item.
Item Price
$6.08
$4.50 shipping to USA
Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780670878277
ISBN 10
0670878278
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.66
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
$6.66
FREE shipping to USA
Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What...

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

by Grothe, Mardy

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780670878277
ISBN 10
0670878278
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.78
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 1999. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.78
FREE shipping to USA
Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What...

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

by Grothe, Mardy

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780670878277
ISBN 10
0670878278
Quantity Available
3
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.78
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 1999. Hardcover. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.78
FREE shipping to USA
Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You: Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What...

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You: Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

by Grothe, Mardy

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780670878277
ISBN 10
0670878278
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$6.78
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Viking Books, 1999. Hardcover. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.78
FREE shipping to USA
Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780670878277
ISBN 10
0670878278
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Champaign, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$8.00
$4.49 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Viking Adult, July 1999. Hardcover . Very Good/Very Good. Very Good Hardcover with Very Good Dustjacket. Light shelfwear to DJ. Light shelfwear to covers. Spine ends bumped. Remainder mark on textblock. Pages clean and tight in binding. Pictures available upon request. A locally owned, independent book shop since 1984.
Item Price
$8.00
$4.49 shipping to USA
Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What...
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You : Chiasmus and a World of Quotations That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

by Contributor-Mardy Grothe

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used: Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780670878277
ISBN 10
0670878278
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$8.81
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Viking Adult, 1999-07-01. Hardcover. Used: Good.
Item Price
$8.81
FREE shipping to USA