Antimetabole is a device used by writers of rhetoric or literature that utilizes a reversal of grammatical structures, such as phrases, to achieve a desired effect and deliver a point in a memorable way. Because it is often rhythmic, antimetabole is easy to call to mind after you've heard it, and it is a favorite technique for public speakers.
President John F. Kennedy is remembered for his very famous call to action in 1961 expressed as antimetabole when he said to the citizens of the United States, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
Antimetabole is often used for adages or aphorisms, again because it makes the saying easy to remember. The observation, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail," emphasizes the importance of preparation before taking action.
A final example of antimetabole is found in the humorous take on approaching life with gusto at any age: "It's not the years in your life, it's the life in your years."
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