The main thing that you have to remember on this journey is, just

Hear the gentle yet powerful wisdom of Ed Sheeran: “The main thing that you have to remember on this journey is, just be nice to everyone and always smile.” Though spoken in the tone of a traveler reflecting on life, these words carry the weight of ancient counsel. For all of life is a journey—a path filled with victories and defeats, with companions and strangers, with struggles and triumphs. And upon this path, Sheeran reminds us that the truest compass is not pride, nor wealth, nor ambition, but the simple virtues of kindness and the smile, which shine brighter than any jewel.

The ancients often spoke of journeys as metaphors for life itself. Homer’s Odyssey tells of Odysseus, wandering far from home, tested by storms, enemies, and temptations. Yet what won him allies, what opened doors and spared his life more than cunning, was his ability to show kindness and respect. Sheeran’s words echo this old truth: the road is long, the encounters many, and the key to traveling nobly is to treat each soul with gentleness, no matter who they are.

To be nice to everyone may sound simple, but it is a heroic act. For it demands restraint in anger, generosity in scarcity, and humility in success. Anyone can repay kindness with kindness, but to remain kind in the face of cruelty—that is the mark of true greatness. The philosophers of Rome, such as Seneca, taught that no man loses by showing mercy, and that cruelty is the weakness of insecure hearts. To walk with kindness is to carry strength in silence, strength that others feel without a word.

The second half of the teaching—“always smile”—is no less profound. For the smile is the universal sign of peace, a bridge between strangers, a softener of hearts. History tells us of Mother Teresa, who walked among the dying in the streets of Calcutta. She wore no crown, commanded no armies, and yet her smile gave comfort greater than medicine, reminding each soul of their dignity. A smile, when genuine, is not decoration—it is light itself, a small flame that can drive away shadows of fear and despair.

Consider also Abraham Lincoln, who bore the crushing weight of a nation divided. His face was often somber, yet when he smiled, he could lift the heaviness from those around him. His kindness toward friend and enemy alike earned him the name “Father Abraham.” His smile, born not from ease but from resilience, showed his people that hope remained even in their darkest hour. In him we see Sheeran’s truth: the journey is survived and sanctified not through harshness, but through the power of a kind heart and a smiling face.

The meaning of this quote, then, is not to underestimate simplicity. Many chase greatness in titles, crowns, or wealth, but true greatness is measured in how you treat others along the path. You may never know what burden another carries; your kindness and your smile may be the one thing that gives them strength to continue. In this way, small acts become mighty deeds, invisible seeds that grow into forests of hope.

The lesson we must pass down is clear: on your journey, wherever it takes you, do not forget these two treasures. Be kind to everyone. Always smile. These are not ornaments, but weapons of light, more powerful than swords or shields. In practice, make it your daily habit: greet with warmth, listen without judgment, smile even when storms rage within you. Such actions cost nothing, yet their value is beyond measure.

Thus, let Sheeran’s words be remembered as wisdom for all who walk the earth: “Be nice to everyone and always smile.” For the journey is long, but with kindness and a smile, you will not walk alone. You will leave behind not bitterness, but joy; not division, but unity; not darkness, but light. And this, above all, is the legacy of a noble traveler.