I want to make a lot of people smile.

Hear now the words of Kyle, spoken with a spirit unburdened by selfish ambition and lifted instead by love for others: “I want to make a lot of people smile.” Simple though the phrase may sound, it carries the weight of ancient wisdom. For in those few words lies the true measure of greatness—not in conquest, not in wealth, not in fleeting glory, but in the ability to awaken joy in the hearts of others. To make people smile is to heal wounds unseen, to brighten days clouded by sorrow, and to remind the weary that life still holds beauty.

The meaning of this truth begins with the power of the smile. A smile is small in effort but vast in effect. It crosses all languages, all borders, all divisions of race, faith, and nation. The child in poverty, the elder in loneliness, the soldier in despair—all are lifted by the warmth of a smile. Thus, Kyle’s desire is not trivial but heroic: to carry a light so simple and so pure that it can pierce even the heaviest shadows. To make many smile is to weave threads of hope into the fabric of humanity.

History bears witness to the power of such souls. Recall Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who walked among the poorest of the poor. Though her resources were meager, her gift was great: she gave her smile freely. To countless forgotten souls, her smile was proof that they were still seen, still loved, still human. And it was said that even in the depths of her own struggles, she clung to the practice of smiling, declaring it the beginning of peace. Like Kyle, she understood that to bring joy to others is to change the world one heart at a time.

The origin of Kyle’s words is found in the heart’s natural longing to serve. Some seek crowns of gold, others seek power over nations, but the purest souls seek only to multiply joy. This is not weakness but strength. For to bring a smile to another is not to escape the struggles of life but to confront them with light. In his words, Kyle chooses to measure his life not by what he can take, but by what he can give. And in this choice, he aligns himself with the eternal teaching of sages and saints: that the highest calling of man is to serve others.

There is also resilience in this mission. To want to make many people smile means to face the reality that many hearts are wounded, that sorrow often outweighs joy. Yet Kyle’s words carry no despair—they carry determination. His creed is one of hope: that even in a broken world, the act of giving joy remains possible, and indeed, necessary. The one who sets out to awaken smiles chooses to fight despair not with sword or shield, but with kindness and presence. This is a nobility greater than any battlefield victory.

The lesson for us is clear. We must seek to live not only for ourselves, but for others. Cultivate kindness in your words and actions, for they may be the cause of another’s smile. Share your joy, for it multiplies when given away. And above all, choose to be present for those around you, so that your smile—whether of the face or of the spirit—may remind them they are not alone. In doing so, you walk the same path Kyle declared: a life measured not by trophies, but by the countless smiles you leave behind.

Therefore, let each one act thus: be generous with your joy, speak words that uplift, and seek to bring light wherever you go. For every smile you awaken is a victory against despair, and every heart you lift is a legacy greater than gold.

Thus, the teaching is eternal: The greatest lives are not those that shine only for themselves, but those that shine for others. To make many people smile is to scatter seeds of light across the world—and those seeds will bloom long after you are gone.