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The template of the meme consists of two WikiHow stock images: one with someone looking at a bottle of pills with a label that says "Hard to Swallow Pills" and another with the pills already in the person's hand, ready to be ingested.

People download it, slap a text of what they think is a universal truth on the second picture, and upload it back on the Internet, waiting for upvotes. And we often have to give it to them. Quite a few of these memes capture some universal law, most of which we know but don't want to accept. Like, "some of your problems are your own fault, and won't get better until you actively do something about it" or "you can't make someone love you."

Bored Panda has compiled some of the most popular Hard to Swallow Pills, so continue scrolling, check out the memes, and upvote your favorites.

#1

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

backwards_savage_ Report

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Jo Cooper
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favourite quotes; going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to the garage makes you a car.

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Clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst Mary Lamia, Ph.D., thinks that the notion that one is “in denial” seems to have taken on a life of its own as an agent of many ills and as a catchphrase for people who dismiss the implications of their behavior.

"Although denial is considered to be a defense often used by people with addictive tendencies, its attributions reach beyond those struggling with substances," Lamia pointed out. "Denial is also attributed to people who do not want to acknowledge that bad stuff is occurring in their lives, such as those who are attempting to cope with a tumultuous relationship, a life-threatening illness, obesity, a loss, or anything else that one may attempt to disavow."

Sure, we can deny a fact, deny responsibility, deny the impact of our actions, or even deny what is really going on by hiding from our feelings. But according to Lamia, when we use denial to defend ourselves or cope with what we feel, we contradict the reality of a situation or attempt to adjust to a circumstance by neglecting its impact. However, the extent of someone’s denial may not really be the issue at hand.

"What’s important is not that people recognize their denial, but that they are able to accept what they are feeling that leads to the denial in the first place," Lamia explained. "If someone excessively and habitually uses alcohol to medicate their anxiety, for example, we might emphasize their attempts to dismiss the harm that their use of alcohol will cause, rather than focus on the emotions they feel that motivate their denial. If that person stops drinking, one would hope the emotions that were formerly hidden by denial, which often have to do with shame, would be exposed and accepted by the individual."

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#3

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

theschoolofsocialvalue Report

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor people have to work even harder than others, just to get a daily meal and shelter

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We not only use denial to hide from any negative emotion, including shame, fear, guilt, or distress but to mute positive emotions as well. "Sometimes feeling positively may be just as threatening as negative feelings. We may want to deny the reality of our emotions, because accepting a reality that is uncomfortable, painful, or incongruous to what we expect means we must also alter our perception of ourselves. Thus, if you are in denial, perhaps you are simply trying to ignore the truth about what you actually feel, rather than about what you are doing or thinking."

But if you want to move forward, you have to swallow the truth.

#5

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This applies to both guys and gals. Nobody is as kind as they think themselves are.

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#7

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's even harder to swallow the problems that are NOT your own fault, but it's UP TO YOU to clean someone else's poop to save your a*s.

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#8

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xrancorx Report

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ChimeraBubbles
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this one. Re-evaluate your worldview every so often, visit other places, talk to people from other communities, read books, and so on. It's character building too.

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#10

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reddit.com Report

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Monday
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm all for praying for those in need if that's what you believe in, but send a donation with that prayer.

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#12

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Daria B
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True. And the nearer the end, the more I think of it. Viruses don't plan according to human made calendars. This could go on and on. And even after it's gone, the damage repair will still take a while.

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#15

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the one thing every teenager (including me) has to understand. Not everyone has to like you, nor do they have to hate you. We just gotta let it be.

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#16

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Stanzeil Report

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Monday
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not just about attractiveness though. Yes being attractive helps, but so does being clean and dressing nicely.

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kjorn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't try to pretend it doesn't. of course it does. but like a good book, the cover bring you close but what's Inside it's what make you stay.

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Potato
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like a person who is conventionally attractive by society standards can have a face that I just want to punch if their personality is horrendous.

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Catlady6000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the long run, definitely. Thing is, the way you dress, grooming, hygiene, etc are all advertisements for what is on the inside, whether you intend it to be or not

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To a point. They shouldn’t end up being your obsession. And they fade with age. The best thing you can do is just take care of yourself; eat decently, exercise moderately, get enough sleep, keep yourself clean and well-groomed (at least in public)—-and never ever forget about your intrinsic qualities. Develop them. They will enhance your attractiveness—-ugliness inside does show on the outside. That way, even if you’re not exactly gorgeous—-and beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyhow—-you’ll get by just fine.

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Dónal Ó Murchadha
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These bitter pills seem to be mostly placebos. Best looking people in the room often are dismissed as just a pretty face. How come the richest people and world leaders are not models? Everybody has unattractive friends and some are even married to them. Who's prettier, Trump or Biden? Guess what.... loks only matter when you're judging people on their looks. What it should say is some people are shallow and naive.

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Joey Marlin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Money trumps (no pun intended) looks though. Always has. Doesn't mean that looks aren't high on the list. Because people are shallow.

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Camil Gagnon
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks matter way to much. People are often not what they seem, but they can and do use their looks to get what they want. It's much harder to be a good person than being physically attractive, which is also more rewarding short term. It's not surprising so much people choose to work on the latter.

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Eva Muller
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also... luckily people have different oppinions about what's attractive. Noone looks the same - thank goodness! Someone I might find handsome, others may find unattractive - and vice versa :)

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Daniel R.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oof ! This is going to be the toughest of the pills for some.

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Doireanne
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look no further than 'influencers' on Instagram and TikTok.

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Levi Baker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay... well. Yes but also no. They shouldn't matter but they do

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Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is this one doing here? Entirely wrong. Compassion matters. Empathy matters. That's what I will consider when I decide if I like them or not.

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Ivana Bogdan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but hard true is also that most people are so shallow because that it is most important attribute they see in other person or make prejudice about it.

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, yes, I'll take being young, healthy and attractive over being old, sick and ugly any day!

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Debbie Burton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...not to everyone. Find the ones that don't care about looks.

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Jade Lynn - Panda's Brat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To a degree they do, but non-shallow people still won't like good-looking asshats.

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Jasmine Hufflepuff Henderson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They really don't. I would rather have someone who people don't find attractive with a great heart. Than have someone who is attractive who is ugly on the inside. Looks genuinely don't matter to me, I care what's on the inside and not the outside. Everyone else may see a rock, but I see a diamond.

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M Dream
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if your inner is beautiful you look beautiful. outer is made from the inner.

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M Dream
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

also my inner shapes my outer in the way thay repels people that do not much with me

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Mshauri Mazuri
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Say that to all the people who say "I love a person who are smart, loving and honest." Yeah, you loved that, we all love that, but you're not going to be with that person if at first you don't like that person's look. However, no matter how good looking you are, if you're an a*s, you will be dump.

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Jaded Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really thought we didn't need reminder for this. I mean preety people will always have it easy. Even when today's "preety" acutely resembles monsters and witches and oddly shaped cubes

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Flavia Slag
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry world, things are going to get worst. Let those who have ears understand.

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Florence Hastings
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would say this is almost true, if by looks you mean good hygiene.

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Laura Maeflower
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks matter, but they don't matter as much as many other things. It should also say "looks don't matter as much as we think they do"

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Helen Haley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but only because we let it. I'd rather hygiene matter.

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Bill
Community Member
3 years ago

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Bank accounts matter more apparently. That's why I dress like a bum. Stupid gold diggers

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Jonathan Litton
Community Member
3 years ago

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That's just the white supremacist capitalist patriarchy controlling your mind !

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jamie1707
Community Member
3 years ago

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What does a narcotic analgesic have to do with looks? I'm not getting it.

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Sergio Serg
Community Member
3 years ago

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This IS true. Except it has NOTHING to do with the color of your skin. It's how you carry yourself. A black or Latino person dressed respectfully will get more respect than a white person with their pants down to their knees. A person that speaks eloquently will get more respect that a person that speaks in ghetto slang... regardless of the color of their skin. The ONLY "systemic" issue now is the media systemically pushing racism.

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#17

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H Edwards
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Smoking is a good example. Children of smokers are much more likely to take it up themselves.

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#19

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Ray Martin
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Possibly so, but believing that the Earth is flat, or that vaccinations don't work does make you stupid and deserving of ridicule.

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#21

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TheLloydGross Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The three big things needed in a relationship are trust, compromise and respect. Of course there are more like having each others back, liking the other person etc. Relationships are hard work, you need to make the effort to help it grow.

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#30

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digitaldegenarate Report

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Daria Z
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A hospital in my city has recently received a complaint from the family of a man saved from covid complications. Apparently, they didn't like that the doctor who saved him had tattoos and a nose ring. Isn't it bizarre?

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Note: this post originally had 65 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.