"After All, Why Not? Why Shouldn't I Keep It?" is a meme featuring a quote from Bilbo Baggins, a character in the movie 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.' The template typically includes a screenshot from the film where Bilbo contemplates retaining possession of the One Ring, embodying moments in daily life where individuals consider keeping something that isn’t theirs, particularly items often borrowed but seldom returned. In the scene, Bilbo appears emotionally conflicted, suggesting a temptation to keep the powerful artifact despite knowing better.
The meme originates from the movie 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring', released by New Line Cinema on December 19th, 2001. In the movie, the character Bilbo Baggins, played by Ian Holm, debates keeping a magical ring, crucial to the film's plot, ultimately delivering the iconic line, 'After all, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?' to justify his hesitation. The meme was further popularized when YouTuber Brian Herman uploaded a clip of this scene on December 16th, 2013, emphasizing Bilbo's moment of temptation. The video can be viewed on YouTube here.[1]
Origin: 2013