What is the triple contrast? The triple contrast is where three words or phrases are contrasted with three other words or phrases; as,
Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish.
—Lincoln
The triple contrast is between “one” and “other,” “make” and “accept,” “survive” and “perish.” This is a splendidly constructed sentence, and contains more information than many paragraphs made up of numerous sentences. It is because of the masterly arrangement of contrasts that so much is stated in so small a space.
How are the contrasts to be brought out? By means of inflection and emphasis. The single contrast requires that when both members are positive the first should be given the rising inflection and the second the falling; as,
The human mind is the brightest display of the power and skill of the Infinite mind with which we are acquainted.
—John Todd
The contrast is between the words “human” and “Infinite,” and as both of them are positive, “human” is given the rising inflection and “Infinite” the falling, thus marking, by means of the different inflections, the difference between the words. All words that are contrasted are given emphasis as well as inflection.
Whenever the words or phrases that are contrasted consist of negatives and positives, the former should be given the rising inflection and the latter the falling inflection, irrespective of their location; as,
They fell and were buried; but they never can die.