27 Short Moral Stories To Read To Develop Moral Values

Jan 4, 2022

14 min read

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Have you ever seen a documentary or read a novel that left an indelible impression on you?

Short stories with morals go beyond generating a feeling of attachment by allowing the audience to empathize with the story regardless of where they are in life, making them more open to education.

One of the most effective methods to advise, educate, and motivate people is through stories.

According to studies, tales that convey a moral or convey principles can improve beneficial behavior in both kids and adults. Narratives, with their compelling characters, dazzling visuals, and fascinating narratives, attract kids' awareness and increase distinct visual imagery in the early years of life, something that ordinary speeches from mom and dad may not be able to do. 

Children appreciate morality tales and gain essential life values from them, such as how to cope with disappointment and anxiety, among other things.

It is also concluded from the studies that kids learn ethical judgments from narratives and what they are taught at a young age.

So, here we have created a list of 27 short stories with a moral. This collection of short stories with a moral is worth looking at and reading, as they might change your life to the fullest.

1. David Gets In Trouble

So this is our first short story with a moral. In this narrative, David is unable to confess when he has made a mistake, and rather makes excuses for anything and everything. He realizes that speaking the truth makes him feel much better.

The moral of the story - We often encounter a situation where telling a lie is easier than accepting the truth. But, accepting the truth will let you avoid other consequences, whereas speaking a lie will always indulge us in the web of complications.

In a simpler context, honesty is the best policy. This is one of the exceptional short stories with a moral.

2. The Tale of Two Frogs

The next tale in the list of short stories with a moral is a famous motivational tale. Once upon a time, a gathering of frogs roamed the woods in search of food and water. 

Two of the frogs in the team fell into a large trench by mishap. The other frogs were concerned about their primates. After seeing how shallow the hole was, they told the 2 frogs that there was no way they could get out and that it was impractical to try.

As the two frogs attempted to climb out of the hole, they kept going to discourage them.

Soon, one of the two frogs genuinely believed the other frogs—that they would never be able to break free from the hole—and died as a result of their surrender. The other frog perseveres and ultimately lunges hard enough to flee the hole. The other frogs were taken aback and began to wonder how he managed to do it.

The disparity was that the second frog was deaf and couldn't hear the other frogs' defeatism. He merely assumed they were encouraging him!

The moral of the story - problems are merely based on what we think! People's opinions and how we respond to them decide the outcome of the problem. So, always believe in yourself and your strengths rather than other people's opinions. This story is one of the best short stories with a moral.

3. The Tortoise And The Hare

The best narrative in our list of short stories with morals is the most widely renowned tale. This common narrative is all about a hare (a rabbit-like creature) that moves and a tortoise that glides smoothly. 

The tale started when the hare, who had won countless racing events, recommended a contest against the tortoise. The hare only wanted to demonstrate that he was exceptional and to feel good about defeating him.

The tournament started after the tortoise accepted.

The hare got a good start, but near the end of the race, he became overly optimistic. His ego reassured him that he could finish the championship even if he took a break.

As a result, he napped near the finish line.

In the meantime, the tortoise started walking slowly and steadily, as if he had decided. He didn't give up for a moment, even though the incident was stacked against him.

The tortoise finished the race and finished the championship while the hare was sleeping!

The moral of the story - consistency is the key to success. Overconfidence always makes people fall to the ground. You should be confident in your skills, but overconfidence should always be avoided.

4. The Empty Pot

Our next diamond in the showcase of short stories with a moral is the famous tale of "The Empty Pot." An Emperor of China offers a competition to determine who will succeed him. The champion will be the person who grows the most beautiful flower with the most soothing fragrance. Ping works incredibly hard on his blossoms, but they simply do not flourish. He gives the monarch the empty container and receives a prize for his sincerity.

The moral of the story - honesty is the best way to deal with problems.

5. What If Everybody Did That?

This is one of the most widely used short stories with a moral for children. The main theme behind this moral story is to imagine what would happen if everyone broke the rules all of the time. All across the store, a young boy's inconsequential negative behaviors accumulate as he is asked, "What if everyone did that?"

The moral of the story - our words and deeds, no matter how irrelevant, have an impact on the society around us. Among short stories with morals, this is one of the standout pieces.

6. The Milkmaid and Her Pail

Patty, a milkmaid, used to be around. She milked her cow and collected two buckets of milk with a handle. She daydreamed about what she would do with the money she got for the milk as she stepped into the market. She looked at buying a hen and going to sell its eggs and cheese to increase funds for a new home for herself and her parents.

She forgot about the bucket she was holding in her enthusiasm and started to miss the trail. She immediately remembered that the milk was seeping down, and when she inspected her buckets, she discovered that they were both empty. These short moral stories should be read by children. Among short stories with morals, this is one of the standout pieces.

Moral of the story - Don't count your chickens before they hatch!

7. Strega Nona

Strega Nona, the village witch who is adored by the residents of the town, is introduced in this vintage folktale. She employs Big Anthony as her apprentice when she requires extra assistance, but she warns him not to touch her mystical pasta bowl. Sadly, Big Anthony ignores her warnings, and the entire town is soon wrapped in pasta!

The moral of the story - Trusting people is not easy for everyone. People will only trust you when you keep your promises.

8. The Lorax

The Once-ler, who discovered a basin of Truffula trees and caramel-colored Bar-ba-loots and made the decision to extract them all until there was nothing left, is the subject of this morality tale. Among short stories with morals, this is one of the most exceptional pieces of short fiction.

Moral of the story - it makes us learn that it is up to all of us to feel empathy for the globe around us.

9. The Elephant Circus

Five elephants were once tethered at a carnival by a frail rope from which they could easily break. Someday, a visitor to the carnival asked the showman, "Why haven't these elephants broken the rope and run away?" From the time they were emotionally immature, the elephants were taught that they were not capable of breaking the straps and fleeing, the showman explained. Because of this presumption, they did not even attempt to break the cords.

The moral of the story - the real power resides in you. Society often tries to limit you and your strength.

Among short stories with morals, this is one of the standout pieces.

10. The Boy Who Cried, Wolf

There was, once upon a time, a young child whose dad was a farmworker. Every day, his dad tells him to look after their flock of sheep. The boy was frustrated one day while watching over the farm animals for a long period. 

Suddenly, he exclaimed excitedly, "Wolf! Wolf!". When villagers heard his cries, they rushed to help him chase the wolf away and safely secure the sheep. But that was all a lie by the boy. This made the villagers annoyed. They told him to not cry wolf again.

The following day, The kid shouts out for help once more. The innocent locals came to his aid again but were pranked once again. Later that day, a wolf landed to terrorize the sheep. 

The boy cried out loud. But, the locals didn't come to his aid this time as they thought they were being pranked again. Among short stories with morals, this is one of the most exceptional pieces of short fiction.

Moral of the story - foolish pranks are often disastrous. People never believe liars.

11. The Golden Touch Of Midas

A fair while ago, in Greece, there was a great ruler, Midas. He was incredibly wealthy and possessed all of the gold he could require. Midas once came across a Satyr (enchantress) who was trapped and in distress. Midas helped the Satyr in exchange for the Satyr's desire being granted. Midas sincerely wished for the modification of anything he touched into gold. Satyr complied with his request. 

Midas was overjoyed as he walked home to his wife and baby girl, touching small stones, stones, and vegetation along the way that turned to gold. His daughter transformed into a golden statue as she greeted him.

Midas, having learned his lesson, kept begging the Satyr to undo the incantation, which he did. Satyr finally restored everything to its natural position.

The moral of the story - always try to be happy with what you have. Greed isn't going to help you get anything.

12. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?

In the wilderness, a down-on-his-luck youngster befriends a great philosopher who helps to explain to him all how he is genuinely extremely fortunate. One of the exceptional pieces of short stories among short stories with a moral.

Moral of the story - Always be pleased with what you have. The thing that you are not thankful for might be something else you dream about.

13. Have you filled a bucket today?

Once upon a time, there was a teacher who returned to his honoree time and time again because it interacted so well with young children. 

According to the story, we all have an undetectable pot that fills up when we are courteous to others or they are polite and helpful and empties when we are harsh or someone is mean to us. One of the exceptional pieces of short stories among short stories with a moral

Moral of the story - kindness should be shown by every person. Kindness brings happiness, whether you give it or receive it, and being unkind has the inverse result.

14. A Sick Day for Amos McGee:

Amos McGee, a caring zookeeper, takes very good care of his zoo's creatures. Amos becomes ill one day, and the creatures repay the favor by caring for him.

The moral of the story - being kind to everyone is the best quality of a human being.

15. Horton Discovers a Who!

Horton, who is a very kind elephant, listens to a whisper and uncovers a place built on a speck of dust. Even though his newfound pals are so small that no one else notices them, he uses his huge size and tremendous power to safeguard them. One of the exceptional pieces of short stories among short stories with a moral.

Moral of the story - It's critical to support those who aren't as wealthy or powerful as you."

16. The Invisible Boy

No one appears to mention Brian, and he is never included in any of his peers' activities until a fresh youngster moves to the neighborhood and wants to reach out and become his buddy. Brian is drawn in black and white initially, but when the other children engage with him, he gets to color.

The moral of the story - being left out sucks. It always hurts to be left alone. So, always extend an invitation to people who are not part of the group.

17. Maddi’s Fridge

Maddi and Sofia are the best pals. They go to the same institution, enjoy the same playground, and reside in the same neighborhood. They have a lot in common! 

However, although Sofia's refrigerator is stocked with groceries, Maddi's is blank. The author relaxes and humbly approaches the hard subject of poverty. This is a story of a true relationship with friendship at its center.

The moral of the story - There is much more to individuals than meets the eyes, and it's crucial to attempt to genuinely comprehend what it's like to live somebody else's life.

18. Three Feet From Gold

A miner was about 3 feet away from reaching gold during the discovery of gold before quitting. The original miner sold his gear to a new miner, who picked up where he left off digging. His expert informed him that gold had only been 3 feet away from where he'd stopped mining.

Because the expert was correct, the very first miner was only 3 feet away from finding gold when he gave up.

Moral of the story - Many individuals surrender their aspirations because the job becomes too challenging, repetitive, or exhausting—but you're probably much closer to the end of the race than you realize, and if you just drive a little further, you'll triumph.

19. A Wise Man’s Jokes

A wise gentleman was approached by a crowd of individuals who kept moaning about the same issues. Rather than attend, he made a sarcastic comment, which made everyone laugh out loud. When he said the sarcastic comment for the third time, no one laughed as hard as they had the very first time.

You will not giggle at the same joke twice. So, what are you gaining by screaming about the same issue over and over again?

Moral of the story - Don't waste your precious time whining about the same issue repetitively; instead, take immediate action to contribute significantly. You're not going to get anywhere if you just sit back and wait for other people to deal with what you've said or done wrong.

20. It’s Never Too Late

In the 1940s, a man was driving a beat-up automobile and survived off of his $99 in social security payments. He decided it was time for a transformation, so he considered what he could provide that others might find useful. 

He was influenced by his grilled chicken dish, which his parents and neighbors adored. He attempted to market his fried chicken recipe to outlets across the United States. However, most of the food venues turned him down.

Despite the numerous denials, he didn't lose hope. He was confident in both himself and his chicken recipe. Eventually, he got his dream to come true, and when an outlet was ready to accept the recipe, it sold out.

He was Colonel Hartland Sanders.

The moral of the story - Colonel Sanders' life story shows that it's never too late to be successful in life. Disregard anyone who tells you "no" and simply move on because you are passionate about what you do, regardless of whether it is popular or not.

21. The Ultimate Test

Following a late-night party, a group of students devised a scheme to avoid having to take their examination. They planned to put forward an excuse in front of the authorities. After their automobile got a punctured tire, they spent almost the entire night lugging it back to college. After rolling around in the mud, each pupil proceeded to the headmaster's office.

The teacher was ready to co-operate with the student and assured them that they would take their retest after 3 days.

On the 3rd day, students are settled in the different rooms with a question paper with only two questions on it.

1) Your name is ______ (1 point)

2) Which of your tires is flat? (99 Pts.)

-Front Right

-Back Left

The moral of the story - it's critical to accept responsibility for your actions if you want to accomplish anything in life. This involves not criticizing others for your faults, not whining about the realities of the current moment, and refusing to give in to other people's temptations-even if they put it on you.

22. Dirty Money

A well-known speaker handed a crisp 20 dollar to the crowd and urged them to raise their hands in the air if they wanted the money. The entire audience raised their hands in the air. He then stamped all over the money that he had dropped on the floor. It was dirty money. "Is there anyone interested right now?"

Every arm reached up in the air.

It was still valuable at $20, regardless of what he did to it to damage it.

The moral of the story - you have something unique and special that no one else can match. Your worth will not change regardless of what you go through.

23. What a Waste

A mother camel and her baby were relaxing. The baby camel innocently questioned his mom about the bumps on their back. The mom explained that they store water to help them survive in the desert. "Well, why do we have long legs with rounded feet?" the baby asked.

"They're supposed to assist us to walk over sand," his mother explained.

"Why are my eyelashes so lengthy?" the baby inquired a third time.

"Your lengthy eyelashes shield you from dust when it sweeps in the wind," the mother said.

"What is the need for camels in the zoo if we have the natural ability to trek over the desert?" the baby ended up asking.

The moral of the story - when you're not in the right environment, your skills and talents will be useless.

24. The Curious Garden

A youngster from a dark, bleak metropolis finds the world's smallest nursery and tries to help it grow and flourish over many years.

Moral of the story - Even when events happen bleakly, if you put in your best effort, you can create something wonderful.

25. The Most Magnificent Thing

A small girl is overjoyed to have created the most wonderful item, only to be let down time and again. Things grow so bad that she gives up completely until her best friend persuades her to attempt it afresh, and she eventually gets it right.

The moral Of the story - rage is natural, but just don't allow it to get in the way of your goals.

26. The Most Fashionable Giant in Town

George the Giant decides to upgrade his clothing and becomes the city's most fashionable giant. He sees creatures in need of clothes on his way back home, and he decides to give away his entire new wardrobe.

The moral of the story - people often judge others by their looks. But what matters is the person's inner beauty, behavior, and character.

27. My Mouth Is a Volcano

Or last but not least, a story in the list of short stories with a moral. Louis has a lot of vital ideas that he wants to get out! In reality, his tongue presses all the syllables up against his teeth until he explodes and upsets everybody around him.

The moral of the story - we should appreciate others enough to wait our turn to speak because their words are just as valuable as our own.

So here is the end of a life-changing article about short stories with morals. This list of short stories with morals is blended with stories for adults as well as children. The moral values that we often learn from short stories with morals are the most important parts of human life.

Let us know in the comment box about your favorite short stories with morals.

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