The truths are universal: Every kid knows fear. Every kid knows

In the voice of the modern sage Jason Reynolds, whose words carry the rhythm of truth and the heartbeat of humanity, we are given this eternal saying: “The truths are universal: Every kid knows fear. Every kid knows family and friendship. Loss, love, laughter. Everything else is just detail.” These are not mere reflections of a poet—they are the distilled essence of human experience, spoken with the simplicity of a child and the wisdom of an elder. For Reynolds reminds us that beneath the armor of age, of race, of nation, of creed, there lies one shared soul — the soul that first entered this world with open eyes and open heart. Fear, family, friendship, loss, love, and laughter — these are the pillars upon which all of human life stands.

The ancients, too, knew that truth is universal. When Homer sang of Achilles’ rage or Penelope’s sorrow, he was not only speaking of Greeks and gods — he was speaking of us. The child in any age, in any land, has known what it means to tremble in the dark, to long for a parent’s embrace, to laugh with friends under a forgiving sky. These experiences are the threads of the human tapestry, woven through every culture and every century. The details — the language, the customs, the colors of the day — may differ, but the heart remains the same. As Reynolds says, everything else is just detail.

There is a story, told often in times of war, that proves this truth. During the Christmas Truce of 1914, in the midst of the Great War, enemies laid down their weapons upon the frozen battlefields of Europe. British and German soldiers, who hours before had sought each other’s death, emerged from their trenches and exchanged bread, songs, and laughter. They played games, shared stories, and showed each other photographs of wives and children. In that moment, the veil of hatred was lifted, and the universality of the human heart stood bare. These men remembered what Reynolds would one day put into words: that beyond flags and orders, all men had once been children, who knew fear, family, love, and laughter.

It is in childhood that these truths are first learned, and it is through memory that they are kept alive. The child who falls learns fear; the child who is comforted learns love. The friend who stands beside him teaches loyalty; the loss of that friend teaches grief. These lessons are not written in books, nor taught in halls of power—they are written upon the soul. To forget them is to become hollow; to remember them is to remain human. Reynolds’ words are a reminder not to let the noise of the world drown out these ancient melodies of the heart.

For even as we grow older, build empires, and chase greatness, we often forget the universal truths that first taught us how to feel. We dress ourselves in pride, in intellect, in titles, and yet none of these can replace the laughter of a friend, the comfort of a family’s warmth, or the ache of losing what we love. The wise know that greatness is not measured by what we build, but by how deeply we remain connected to these human roots. To know fear and still act with courage; to know loss and still love again — this is the true measure of a life well lived.

So let this teaching be passed down to you, O listener: never let the details of life make you forget its essence. Nations will rise and fall, fashions will fade, knowledge will grow and crumble—but fear, family, friendship, loss, love, and laughter will endure as long as humanity itself. When confusion clouds your path, return to these foundations, and you will always find your way. They are the compass of the soul.

And so, the lesson is this: cherish the simple truths, for they are the rarest and the most enduring. Listen to the laughter of children, for in it echoes the wisdom of the ages. Let your heart not grow too proud for love, nor too guarded for friendship, nor too numb for grief. Be human — gloriously, vulnerably, fully human. For in the end, as Reynolds teaches, all else is mere detail, and it is these universal truths that make us eternal.