As a Canadian, I am very proud of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at Davos yesterday.
His talk deserves careful attention.
Not because it was loud.
Not because it was dramatic.
But because it was firm and precise.
At a moment when the international order is truly at an inflection point—and when the consequences of words are no longer abstract—Prime Minister Carney chose something far more effective: principles and pragmatism.
One sentence, in particular, stood out to me:
“We are no longer just relying on the strength of our values, but also on the value of our strength.”
That isn’t accidental phrasing.
It’s chiasmus: a rhetorical device that balances two clauses by reversing their key terms.
Why does this matter?
Because chiasmus forces an audience to hold two ideas at once.
It resists simplistic thinking.
It acknowledges tension rather than denying it.
Values matter.
Strength matters.
And in today’s world, pretending otherwise is no longer credible.
Great political speeches don’t just express positions.
They frame reality in a deliberate and disciplined way.
And they give us a reason not just to hope, but to work, for a better future.
In uncertain times, language like this doesn’t inflame.
It clarifies.
And right now, clarity is leadership.
Prime Minister Carney’s speech is a masterclass in how rhetorical devices such as chiasmus can signal seriousness, restraint and resolve. All at the same time.
I’ll be publishing a deeper analysis of the speech soon. It’s worth studying, especially for anyone who believes that words still matter in global leadership.
