The Bane and Bruce meme is inspired by the climactic scene in the 2012 film 'The Dark Knight Rises.' In this scene, Bane delivers a monologue to a defeated Bruce Wayne, famously stating, 'You merely adopted the dark; I was born in it, molded by it.' The meme template captures the power dynamic between the two characters and is widely used to compare someone who is a newcomer to a hardship versus someone who is a seasoned veteran. It has evolved into a popular way to showcase expertise or endurance in various internet subcultures.