The Inspirational Quote meme aesthetic originated from the iconic corporate motivational posters of the 1990s, which paired high-resolution nature photography with simplistic life advice. As social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest popularized 'aesthetic' quotes, internet culture began subverting the format. This led to the rise of 'Demotivational' posters and, eventually, surreal or ironic quote memes that use the same serious visual language to deliver absurd, funny, or intentionally unhelpful messages. Today, this format is used both for genuine inspiration and as a tool for satirical commentary on toxic positivity.