The internet produces new jokes every day, but some memes stick around for years. A dog sitting in a burning room captures your Monday morning. Harold’s strained smile sums up another unnecessary meeting. And a few familiar notes tell you that, yes, someone has Rickrolled you again.
Here are ten classic memes that earned a lasting place in internet culture. Everyone has their favorites, but these are hard to forget.
- Doge — The Dog with a Thousand Thoughts
Kabosu, the Shiba Inu behind Doge, had an expression that somehow combined surprise, suspicion, and mild confusion. Add colorful text and deliberately broken English, and you have an instantly recognizable meme.
Doge became especially popular in 2013, winning people over with its silly enthusiasm. Bought something completely unnecessary but adorable? Finished one task out of twenty? “Such success. Much productive. Wow.”
- This Is Fine — Staying Calm While Everything Burns
A dog sits in a room engulfed in flames, calmly insisting that everything is fine. Taken from a comic by K. C. Green, the scene perfectly captures the experience of having too many problems and too little energy to react.
Your deadline is approaching, your laptop has frozen, and the file you need has disappeared. Naturally, you decide to make a hot drink first. Sometimes, this meme is the most honest answer to “How’s your day going?”
- Distracted Boyfriend — Temptation in One Picture
A man turns to look at another woman while his girlfriend watches in disbelief. This stock photograph went viral as a meme in 2017, giving the internet a simple way to joke about wandering attention.
Three labels are enough to tell the whole story. The boyfriend is you, his girlfriend is your unfinished work, and the passing woman is a new show with five seasons. The accuracy can feel a little personal.
- Rickroll — The Link with a Surprise
Someone promises you an exciting trailer, an exclusive video, or an answer to your question. You click the link and find Rick Astley performing “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Congratulations: you’ve been Rickrolled.
The prank spread in 2007, and its charm lies in how easily it still catches people out. You know the trick exists. You’ve probably fallen for it before. Yet there you are again, wondering whether you might as well listen to the whole song.
- Disaster Girl — Suspiciously Pleased with Herself
A little girl gives the camera a knowing smile while a house burns behind her. It takes almost no effort to imagine that she caused the chaos and is delighted with the results.
In reality, the photograph of Zoe Roth was taken during a firefighter training exercise. The internet, however, turned her into the face of mischief without regret. Dropped a controversial opinion into the group chat and then muted your notifications? There’s a meme for that.
- Success Kid — Celebrating the Small Wins
With his clenched fist and determined expression, Success Kid looks as though he has just conquered every obstacle life could throw at him. He became the perfect symbol for those little moments that deserve a quiet “Yes!”
Caught the bus just in time? Remembered your password on the first attempt? Found money in an old jacket? This meme gives everyday victories the celebration they deserve.
- Hide the Pain Harold — Smiling Through It
Harold’s smile seems to say, “Of course, everything is wonderful.” His eyes appear to add, “Please get me out of here.” At least, that is how the internet interpreted the stock photography model’s expression.
The meme is ideal for situations that require more politeness than enthusiasm. A colleague asks for another “quick favor,” a meeting enters its second hour, or someone suggests a team call on Friday afternoon. You smile, and suddenly you are Harold.
- Drake — No to This, Yes to That
Two frames from Drake’s “Hotline Bling” music video became a universal way to express a preference. In the first, he rejects an option. In the second, he enthusiastically approves of the alternative.
Going to bed at a reasonable hour? No. Watching someone restore an antique coffee grinder until 2 a.m.? Absolutely. The format works especially well when it exposes our own questionable priorities.
- Woman Yelling at a Cat — An Argument Going Nowhere
An emotional woman points and shouts while a white cat at a dinner table looks thoroughly unimpressed. Two unrelated images were paired in 2019, creating a remarkably convincing picture of an argument between beings on entirely different wavelengths.
It is the perfect format for misunderstandings and overly literal replies. “I told you to bring something for dessert!” “I brought a spoon.” You may disagree with the cat, but you can almost follow its logic.
- Two Buttons — When a Simple Choice Becomes Impossible
A sweating character struggles to choose between two buttons. The decision should be straightforward, but both options represent something he wants—or something he claims to believe.
“Save money” and “Order takeout because it’s been a long day.” “Stay home all weekend” and “Wonder why nobody invites me anywhere.” The joke works because so many of our everyday dilemmas fit neatly onto those two buttons.
These memes remain familiar because the situations behind them are familiar. We still get distracted, celebrate tiny victories, struggle with decisions, and pretend everything is under control. The next time words fail you, there’s a good chance an old meme has already said exactly what you mean.
Want to know more? Buy a copy of this newspaper to read the full story.