ADVERTISEMENT

Many years ago, the famous French playwright Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais said: "I hasten to laugh at everything, otherwise I would have to cry!" Several centuries have passed since then, and humanity has changed a lot, but at least one thing remains the same—laughter, as it did then, supports us in difficult times.

Only, if these were just anecdotes and jokes before, their place has now been almost completely overtaken by memes. Memes surround us literally everywhere—they accompany every more or less significant event. And there are special dedicated meme pages on social media, where tens of thousands of followers enjoy related memes. Such as, for example, the Instagram page called Books I Didn't Read.

More info: Instagram

#1

Man speaking into a microphone with funny meme text about avoiding going out, adds humor as a mood booster.

booksididnt Report

cj be like
Community Member
10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sometimes I step out of the house, feel the atmosphere and just decide 'nope its too peopley out today'

View more comments
RELATED:
    #2

    Funny meme collage showing psychiatrist, doctor, full shopping cart, and dental patient as signs of winning the lottery.

    booksididnt Report

    Feathered Dinosaur
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I see, they used their money to move to Europe

    View more comments
    #3

    Text meme about misunderstanding fall plans, humorously contrasting autumn with civilization collapse.

    booksididnt Report

    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Whichever comes first: it's going to close.

    View more comments

    As of today, this Instagram page has more than 2K different postings and around 277K followers and, if we believe the description, dedicates its posts to philosophical memes. That is, those that at least make you think.

    For example, to understand the meaning of one of the more popular posts on this page, you need to know the specifics of the philosophies of Marx, Hegel, Lacan, and Slavoj Zizek. On the other hand, not all the memes presented here have a very high entry threshold.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #4

    "Antistalking meme with funny definition to boost your mood, shared by a dedicated IG page."

    booksididnt Report

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Antiburglary: Throwing your stuff into someone's open window.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    A group of Squirtle labeled as unread books faces a new Squirtle labeled newly-purchased book, showcasing funny memes.

    booksididnt Report

    okpkpkp
    Community Member
    10 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And now in some states, BANNED BOOKS. I never thought I'd see the day. Sad.

    View more comments

    The key feature of good humor is that it should reflect certain facets of our reality, and resonate in the heart of everyone who listens to the joke or looks at the meme. For example, when I look at a picture where several unread books meet "a newcomer"—a book I just bought, I understand it perfectly. After all, I myself have a couple of books on my shelves that I haven't gotten around to reading yet...

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #8

    Funny meme of a person making a disgusted face, captioned with moving on humor for a mood booster.

    booksididnt Report

    cj be like
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    every time i make that face i get in trouble, who has any substitute faces i can use

    View more comments
    #9

    Two-panel funny meme: chaotic emotional life vs. calm advising others, highlighting mood booster humor.

    booksididnt Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    To create a successful meme—that is, one that at least makes people smile (we are not talking about virality now—its mechanisms are still largely unexplained), the authors of popular meme communities offer several rules. For example, this dedicated post on the United for Respect website notes three key steps:

    ADVERTISEMENT

    1. Keep it simple—the meme should be understandable (who said anything about Slavoj Zizek?...)

    2. Know your audience—use language techniques that are understandable to the people the meme is intended for.

    3. Keep it current—stay up-to-date with trends and events, because no one actually likes outdated memes.

    #10

    Dog sitting on a seawall gazing at the ocean, with a humorous meme caption involving philosophy book. Mood booster meme.

    booksididnt Report

    cj be like
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    'to bark or not to bark, that is the question'

    View more comments
    #11

    Woman holding a thesis wrapped in a blanket, with caption about #phdlife humor on a funny memes IG page.

    booksididnt Report

    Inigo Montoya
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gently cradling the abstract and introduction with her arm. What a great mother!

    View more comments
    #12

    Grumpy blue teddy bear meme from a dedicated IG page for mood-boosting laughs.

    booksididnt Report

    Inigo Montoya
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Makayla Maroney "not impressed" Bear

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT

    However, it is quite possible to create a fairly universal meme—for this, it has to appeal to feelings that are inherent in one way or another to each of us. Or at least to most of us. And most of the memes presented on the ‘Books I Didn't Read’ Instagram page, by and large, seem quite universal. At least, it seems so to me. In the end, we didn’t include a meme about philosophers in this selection—just in case...

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #13

    Venn diagram meme with "Philosophy Professors," "Backstreet Boys," and "4-Year-Old," intersecting at "Tell Me Why." Mood booster.

    booksididnt Report

    cj be like
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    bottom: 'i want it that way' left: 'believe when i say' right: 'where do babies come from'

    View more comments
    #14

    A humorous meme about ancestors seeing someone use GPS for familiar locations, enhancing mood.

    booksididnt Report

    Phantom Phoenix
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Consult with the Oracle before going to war. There may be battles you can completely avoid

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT

    In any case, we will be really glad if, while scrolling this list, you smile at least once. This world can be damn complicated and harsh sometimes—so if humor really lets us to take a break and get even a small boost of good mood, so be it. So please feel free to look at this whole selection—and smile, just smile! And who knows, maybe crack up over some of these memes as well!

    #16

    Funny meme about breakfast with a frog beside pancakes, eggs, bacon, and coffee, captioned about quantum physics.

    booksididnt Report

    Certainly not Dan
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’m using that on my 11 year old this evening :) Genius.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #17

    Person wearing sunglasses with a meme text about being almost 40 and not fixing typos as a mood booster.

    booksididnt Report

    Phantom Phoenix
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Clearly it's: What are you? Dong tofu fight?

    View more comments
    #18

    Person overwhelmed at a cluttered desk, illustrating a funny meme about having many browser tabs open.

    booksididnt Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Opening dozens of browser tabs keeps your browser healthy and fit. It's like lifting weights and doing cardio for your browser.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #20

    Two ceramic pigs labeled "Pigs with no specific duties" as a funny meme for a mood booster.

    booksididnt Report

    Jen F
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Clearly their duty is being cutie patooties. And they have shown their quality.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #21

    Close-up of a person with text overlay, funny memes mood booster.

    booksididnt Report

    Matt Wheeler
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We should put this in at least two more threads.

    View more comments
    #22

    A funny meme with text about the medieval royalty's urge for entertainment while eating, next to a laptop.

    booksididnt Report

    Jen F
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Jack Spade: [looks at musicians] Who are these guys? John Slade: They're my theme music. Every good hero should have some!

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #23

    Person holding a book with a humorous meme text about focusing on gym and art, shared by a dedicated IG page.

    booksididnt Report

    Feathered Dinosaur
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Won't work, they make you work 8h a day there, too

    View more comments
    #24

    A group photo with kids and adults, one wearing a bold Prodigy shirt, creating a humorous meme vibe for mood boosting.

    booksididnt Report

    Glix Drap
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The kid at the front is just about to lose an ear.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #25

    Ice cream machine with "No Ice Cream" sign, contradicting "Anything is Possible with Ice Cream" message above, creating a funny meme.

    booksididnt Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #26

    Cartoon man wearing a shirt that reads, "I ❤️ Downloading Files I’ll Never Read," surrounded by funny meme logos.

    booksididnt Report

    #27

    Funny meme of a snake eating itself with text, "I just gotta make it to Friday," symbolizing the struggle of the week.

    booksididnt Report

    Michelle C
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some weeks do feel like that, admittedly!

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #29

    A funny meme about feeling inadequate when seeing a peer succeeding, with coffee being poured in the background.

    booksididnt Report

    Jen F
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Know everytime this happens to you... When you do perform a basic function someone will see you the same way when they can't today.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #30

    Two-panel funny meme with confident black cat and sad crying white cat for mood booster.

    booksididnt Report

    Karl der Große
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The worst in when you've been rocking the first mood for too long, and you feel the second mood creeping around the corner.

    View more comments
    #31

    Excerpts from Kafka's diaries, highlighting the humorous side of writing struggles.

    booksididnt Report

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Writing? This is basically a diary of my life/living XD

    View more comments
    #32

    A woman on a train with headphones, accompanied by a funny meme text about long journeys and nostalgia.

    booksididnt Report

    Chlorox Bleach
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    10 years ago I'd have laughed at this. But now I realize how true it is

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #33

    Person in a bathroom with text overlay on a funny meme.

    booksididnt Report

    Mike Rodrick
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you're a republican you've nothing to worry about.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #34

    Philosopher meme depicting a funny moment with an ancient figure walking away, used as a mood booster.

    booksididnt Report

    Admiralshallbethejudgeofthat
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Meanwhile, Einstein: GUYS! Light travels at the speed of LIGHT

    View more comments
    #35

    Comic scene with blue character standing, humorous text about forgetting a source, shared by a dedicated meme Instagram page.

    booksididnt Report

    Teags
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    all of my english paper citations:

    View more comments
    #36

    A man in black and white photo with humorous text, showcasing one of the funny memes from a popular IG page.

    booksididnt Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #38

    Funny meme text mimicking a resume entry: "taking it easy at home, Nov 2019 - Present, same old place."

    booksididnt Report

    #39

    Funny meme of Plato's Cave with speech bubble: "chat is this real," suggesting humor and introspection.

    booksididnt Report

    Ryan Mercer
    Community Member
    10 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Plato's Cave is an allegory for touching grass.

    View more comments