A big, important question is going viral on social media, and if you know the answer, you can officially call yourself a philosopher. At least, that's what the meme claims.

The question wonders why a prisoner chooses bread over a key in an image of a man fishing for a loaf of bread outside his cell lying next to a key.

The image has since become the subject of memes, along with some genuine attempts at answering the question.

Here's what you need to know about the "Why Did the Prisoner Choose the Bread Instead Of the Key" meme.

What Is The 'Why Did the Prisoner Choose the Bread Instead Of the Key' Meme?

Back in June 2020, a meme sharing a philosophical question started going viral on Facebook. The meme shows a prisoner reaching out of his cell with a stick to try and grab a loaf of bread, despite the presence of a key lying next to the bread. The post asks why the prisoner would choose the bread over the key, which presumably can be used to open his cell.

This image has spread far and wide online over the past five years and inspired a lot of answers, both funny and genuine.

Some suggest the prisoner is looking to satisfy his immediate needs first and will simply get the bread, then reach back out for the key. Others see it as a statement about how people prioritize short-term fixes over long-term ones.

Meanwhile, others theorize that the prisoner doesn't even know if the key unlocks his cell, making the bread a safer choice.

How Is 'Why Did the Prisoner Choose the Bread Instead Of the Key' Used In Memes?

The image has been regularly reposted online since 2020, and some of the funnier responses to its question have turned it into a meme.

Specifically, a commenter once suggested that the prisoner wants the bread because "bread tastes better than key," becoming a massively viral response.

Since then, the answer has been paired with a more philosophically driven answer to create a viral meme format.

The meme sees various characters attached to audio of a narrator reading the "bread tastes better" comment after the philosophical one, highlighting the stark contrast in reactions to the post.

@s1gmav1lh0 bread taste better than key #bread #key #philosopher #fyp ♬ original sound – wiwho🧛

What Are Some More 'Why Did the Prisoner Choose the Bread Instead Of the Key' Memes?

@projectpubes mizu va & editor: @☕️﹐ erin ୨୧ ◞ 🌟 , nene va: @vias petite little waist🤣🤣, minori va: @Sphynxluck #fandub #projectsekai #pjskfandub #colorfulstage #projectpubes #mizukiakiyama #nenekusanagi #minorihanasato #moremorejump #niigo #wxs #fyp #foryoupage ♬ Club Penguin Pizza Parlor – Cozy Penguin

@.stanczyk0 BREAD TASTES BETTER THAN KEY ‼️ // #chiikawa #momonga #usagi #hachiware #bread #idk #xyz #hi ♬ original sound – wiwho🧛

@jackknightley Stupid picture #fyp #motivation #british ♬ original sound – SirJackKnightley

@arachn1d1 bread taste better than key #yasuhirohagakure #hagakureyasuhiro #yasuhiro #hagakure #triggerhappyhavoc #byakuyatogami #togamibyakuya #byakuya #togami #fyp #fup #fypage #viralvideo #viraltiktok ♬ original sound – Yasuhiro Hagakure's #1 fan ‼️

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For the full history of the Why Did the Prisoner Choose the Bread Instead Of the Key meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.