15 Short Inspirational Stories with a Moral [Motivational stories]

Inspiration can come from many sources.

A song on the radio might spur you into action. Seeing someone accomplish something extraordinary, defy the odds, or overcome adversity can do the same. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple inspirational quote.

However, one source never disappoints:

Short motivational stories.

Humans have told each other tales for millennia, so it’s no surprise inspiring stories pack a punch. In just a few paragraphs, they can shift our thinking and compel us to make positive changes.

On the hunt for some of the best short inspirational stories with a moral message? Keep reading for 15 of my favourites!

15 Epic Short Inspirational Stories with a Moral

Feeling in need of inspiration? Here are 15 of my favourite short stories about motivation that should do the trick!

1. How to Hunt a Monkey

“Do you know how hunters used to trap monkeys?” A man asked his child.

“Rather than chasing them up a tree or shooting arrows from below, they’d put a heavy glass jar with a narrow neck on the floor, which had the monkeys’ favourite food inside. They’d then step back and hide, waiting for the unsuspecting animal to approach.

“When it did, the monkey would reach inside, clench a fist around the food, and try to pull it out. However, the narrow neck of the jar would stop the poor monkey from getting its hand out!

“It’d pull and pull. But to no avail. There was no way to take its hand from the jar without releasing the food. Rather than letting go, though, the monkey would persevere, refusing to drop its dinner.

“The hunters would then approach and catch it to enjoy a meal of their own.”

“Don’t be like that monkey,” warned the man, “In life, to fight another day and grow as a person, you must know when to quit, when to move on, and when to let go of whatever’s holding you back.”

Moral of the story:

Sometimes you have to let go and give up what you have now in order to receive something better in the future. Don’t let stubbornness be your downfall.

2. The Value of Money

At the beginning of a new school year, a class teacher stood up in front of her students, holding a $100 bill.

She told them, “Put your hands up if you want this money”.

Every hand in the room shot up, to which the teacher said, “I am going to give this money to someone here, but first, let me do this…”

She took the bill and crumpled it up before asking, “Who still wants it?”

The hands stayed raised.

The teacher then dropped the money on the floor, stomped and ground it into the ground, then picked it back up. “How about now?” she asked again.

The hands stay up.

“Class, I hope you see the lesson here. It didn’t matter what I did to this money. You still wanted it because its value stayed the same. Even with its creases and dirtiness, it’s still worth $100.”

“It’s the same with us. There will be similar times in your life when you’re dropped, bruised, and muddied. Yet no matter what happens, you never lose your value.”

Moral of the story:

Life’s hardships are inevitable. We’ll all go through hardship, often for no fault of our own.

Don’t let these challenges alter your feelings of self-worth. You’ll always be enough; you have something unique and special to offer the world.

3. The Two Wolves (Inspiring Short Story About Life)

An old Cherokee chief sat down to teach his grandson about life.

“There’s a fight going on inside me,” he tells the young boy, “a fight between two wolves.”

“One wolf is evil. It’s full of malice, anger, greed, self-pity, and false pride. The other is good. It’s full of peace, love, joy, kindness, and humility.”

“This same fight is going on inside you and everyone else on the face of the earth.”

The grandson was quiet, pondering this revelation for a moment before asking, “Grandfather, which wolf will win?”

The old man smiled and replied, “The one you feed.”

Moral of the story:

Good and bad exist within each of us. It’s our responsibility to own that reality and do whatever we can to nurture the good.

4. The Story of the Grateful Starfishes (An Inspiring Story about Attitude)

One morning, an elderly man was walking along the beach. Looking up from his reverie, he noticed a young boy picking something off the sand and throwing it into the sea.

As he approached, the man realized the child was throwing starfish that had washed up on the shore back into the breaking waves.

Getting closer, he asked what the boy was doing. “The starfish will die if they’re still on the shore when the sun rises,” he replied.

Perplexed, the old man said, “But that’s pointless! There are countless miles of beach and thousands of starfish. It doesn’t matter how many you return to the water. You can’t make a difference.”

Unfazed, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and tossed it into the sea.

“It matters to this one,” he said.

Moral of the story:

No matter the odds of success or the scale of the challenge, your actions can make a difference. It’s better to light a candle than curse the dark.

Every little counts. Doing something to make a positive change is better than nothing.

5. The Elephant and the Rope

One day a man walked past a camp of elephants.

Looking closer, he was surprised to see that these mighty animals weren’t held in cages or kept in chains. The only thing stopping them from escaping was a thin rope tied from one of their legs to a simple pole in the ground.

Confused as to why they didn’t break the rope, he asked the trainer why they weren’t attempting to escape. The trainer replied,

“As baby elephants, we use the same system. But, at that age, the rope is strong enough to stop them from escaping. They grow up like this, believing they can never break the rope, so even as adults, they stay put.”

These powerful, magnificent, and intelligent elephants didn’t believe they could free themselves. So, they never tried.

Moral of the story:

Our personal beliefs are powerful and often dictate our outcomes. They can work for or against us. Identify your limiting beliefs so you can push against them.

These confidence affirmations may help.

6. The Fisherman and the Businessman (My Favourite Motivational Story)

Once upon a time, there was a businessman sitting on a beach in a small Italian village.

As he sat enjoying a break from the stress of his daily schedule, he saw a fisherman rowing a small boat back into harbour. In the boat were a few large fish.

Impressed, the businessman asked the fisherman, “How long does it take you to catch so many fish?” To which he replied, “Oh, not so long.”

The businessman was confused, “Why don’t you fish for longer to catch even more?”

“More? This is enough to feed my entire family and even offer some to my neighbours,” said the fisherman.

“So, what do you do for the rest of your day?” Enquired the businessman.

The fisherman replied, “Well, I have usually caught my fish by late morning, at which point I go home, kiss my wife, and play with my kids. In the afternoon, I take a nap and read. In the evening, I go to the village to have a drink with my friends, play guitar, sing, and dance into the night!”

Putting his entrepreneurial hat on, the businessman offered a suggestion.

“I have a PhD in business! I can help you become much more successful. From now on, you should spend longer at sea and catch as many fish as possible.

“When you’ve saved enough money, buy a bigger boat to catch even more fish. From there, you’ll soon be able to buy more boats, set up your own company, build a production plant to can the fish and control distribution, and move to the city to control your other branches.”

To this, the fisherman asked, “And after that?”

The businessman laughed, “After that, you’ll be able to live like a king, take your company public, float your shares, and be rich!”

“And after that?” Asked the fisherman once more.

“After that, you can retire, move to a house by the sea, wake up early in the morning to go fishing, then return home to play with your kids, kiss your wife, take a nap in the afternoon, and join your friends in the village to drink, play guitar and dance into the night!”

Puzzled, the fisherman replies, “But isn’t that what I’m doing already?”

Moral of the story:

Be content with what you have. Do you really need to keep pushing for more? Stress is often a choice. There’s joy and peace in simplicity.

7. The Baker and the Butter (Short Story about Motivation and Fairness)

A long time ago, a baker and a farmer lived in the same small village.

These two men had a friendly arrangement in place, where the farmer would sell a pound of butter to the baker each day.

One morning, the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he’d received the correct amount.

To his surprise, he discovered that the farmer had sold him less butter than he’d paid for.

Angry about the unfairness, he took the farmer to court.

At the hearing, the judge asked the farmer whether he used any measure to weigh the butter.

“Your honour, I am but a lowly farmer and do not own a proper measure. I simply use an old-fashioned scale,” he replied.

“How do you weigh the butter then?” Enquired the judge.

To this, the farmer answered:

“Your honour, long before the baker started buying butter from my farm, I’ve been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when he brings me the bread, I place it on my scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it’s the baker.”

Moral of the story:

Karma’s a bitch! Be kind and fair to others, and you’ll enjoy the rewards.

8. The Story of the Fig Tree (From “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath)

I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked.

One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out.

I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose.

I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.

Moral of the story:

Decide! Take action. There’s no right or wrong answer when choosing between two positive routes or outcomes. Wait too long, and the decision will be made for you.

9. The Pursuit of Happiness (Stories for Inspiration and Happiness)

There was once a group of 100 people attending a seminar on personal development.

In the middle of their talk, the speaker stopped and decided to run an impromptu group activity. He handed out a balloon to each attendee and told them to write their name on it.

He then collected the balloons and put them in an adjacent room.

Next, the speaker instructed the 100 attendees to go next door and, within five short minutes, find the balloon with their name on it.

Pandemonium broke loose. They charged in, pushing and colliding with each other as they desperately searched for their name.

Five minutes passed, and nobody succeeded.

Smiling, the speaker then told everyone to pick up any random balloon. “Give it to the person whose name is written on it,” he said. Within a few minutes, everyone had their balloon back.

“What just happened with those balloons is exactly what happens in our search for happiness. We frantically look for it all around us, not knowing where it is,” explained the teacher.

“Yet our happiness lies in the happiness of others. By giving them their happiness, you get yours.”

Moral of the story:

Happiness and fulfilment rarely come from selfish pursuits but almost always come from doing good deeds for others. By helping others, we help ourselves.

10. Buridan’s Ass (Motivational Short Story about Decision Making)

A hungry ass finds himself between two equally large and delicious-looking bales of hay.

He looks from one to the other and back again, unsure which to choose.

This goes on for a long while until, unable to make a decision, the poor old donkey dies of starvation.

Moral of the story:

Once again, take action. Don’t linger too long on the precipice of decisions – especially when the outcomes are both positive.

Save yourself a headache by taking a leap of faith, committing, and enjoying whatever rewards come your way, refusing to look back at what could have been.

11. The Clever General (A Real-Life Motivation Story)

Thousands of years ago there was a famous Chinese general with a reputation for being an astute and cunning leader.

One day, at the end of a long campaign, he stopped at a stronghold with a small battalion of soldiers, sending his main fighting force ahead to rest elsewhere.

Meanwhile, one of his enemies caught wind of this and marched a vast army to the general’s now all-but defenceless position.

In the middle of the night, the general was awoken by one of his men. He broke the news:

The enemy was close. They’d be there before daybreak, and the tiny band of soldiers in the stronghold would be no match for their numbers.

Hearing this, the general stopped and paused.

Understanding his predicament, he told his men to stand down, open the gates, take down the banners from the walls, and hide.

The general then removed his armour, donned a cloak, and sat on the battlements. He pulled out his mandolin and started playing as he looked out upon the approaching army.

When the enemy leader arrived, he recognized the general immediately and ordered his forces to halt. He needed to think. He knew his adversary better than anyone, including his reputation for wily deeds and setting deadly traps.

He waited some more.

The presence of this infamous general sitting there with such nonchalance made him question himself. Was the information he received false? Was he being lured into a trap?

After waiting a little while longer, he finally made a decision. He ordered his forces to retreat.

Moral of the story:

First, your reputation/brand is crucial and can deliver all sorts of positive outcomes.

Second, there’s often a smarter and more strategic way to achieve your goals. Never assume it takes sweat, blood, and tears. Look for ways to attain the same results with less effort.

12. The Dragon and the Treasure

In many ancient myths and stories the hero has to go on a long and perilous journey to complete their mission. A classic example?

The sleepless dragon that guards its treasure, breathing fire on anyone who so dares to steal it.

To get the gold, the knight in shining armour must, through guile or force, first defeat this beast.

Moral of the story:

Success lies on the other side of effort, which makes suffering part of the process.

Rather than avoid discomfort, the ambitious must pursue it at all costs. Only by butting heads and pushing through pain can you attain the proverbial gold.

13. The Queen’s Boulder (Short Stories about Motivation and Effort)

In ancient times there was a queen who ordered her soldiers to manoeuvre a boulder into the middle of the main road to and from town.

The queen then hid, watching to see who would stop to do the right thing and move it out of the way again.

Wealthy merchants and courtiers passed the boulder, barely giving it a second thought. A few of them blamed their queen for not keeping the roads clear. Yet none stopped to do anything.

One day, a peasant walked along with a sack of vegetables to sell at the market.

He stopped, laid these down, and then pushed, tugged, huffed, and heaved the stone away.

Upon picking up his vegetables, the peasant saw a large purse full of gold and a handwritten note from the queen herself where the boulder had been.

The gold was a reward for whoever removed it from the road.

Moral of the story:

Laziness will never get you anywhere in life. Success almost always takes humility and hard work. You might like these quotes about laziness.

14. The Pear Tree and the Seasons of Life (Short Motivational Stories with a Moral)

There was once a man who had four young sons.

Wanting to teach them about the dangers of judging things too rapidly, he decided to send each of them on a journey, one after the other, to a distant pear tree.

Each son when in a different season, the first in winter, the second in spring, and so on.

At the end of the year he brought his children together and asked them what they’d seen.

The son who’d travelled in winter described a gnarled, twisted, and barren tree that stood stark and ugly against the land.

The son who went in spring disagreed. No, he said, the tree seemed full of hope and promise, with green buds along its branches.

The third son, who’d travelled in summer, disagreed once more. The pear tree he’d seen was covered in beautiful blossom that looked and smelled divine.

Finally, the last son, who’d made the journey in fall, disagreed again, describing a tree laden with sweet and delicious pears that tasted better than any he’d eaten before.

When each son had spoken, the father said they were all correct, because they’d only seen but one season of the pear tree’s life.

He explained to his sons that it’s foolish and impossible to judge something in this manner.

The essence of something, whether it’s a tree or their fellow man, can only be measured as a whole, at the end of the year, having seen it in its fullness. To make your judgment in winter is to miss the promise of spring, the beauty of summer, and the fruit in fall.

Moral of the story:

Refuse to judge yourself, life, or other people based upon a single mistake or challenging time. Refuse to let the pain of one season destroy the joy of those to come.

15. The Story of the Lumberjacks (Stories about Inspiration and Productivity)

Two lumberjacks of equal skill, experience, and stature work side by side, chopping down trees together every single day.

However, one lumberjack works non-stop, without taking a break, whereas the other takes an hour-long lunch break every afternoon.

Despite working for less time, both lumberjacks inevitably chop the same number of trees by the end of each working day.

Puzzled and frustrated, the lumberjack who works all day long asks the other how he manages to chop just as much as him while still taking a break.

To this, he responds:

“It’s simple. I spend that hour at home sharpening my axe.”

Moral of the story:

Breaks are vital to productivity. Work smart, not hard!

Use These Short Stories for Motivation

Short motivational stories can be incredible sources of inspiration. In my own life, they help shift my thinking, spark newfound enthusiasm, and convince me to make positive changes.

Have you been searching for inspiring stories of this nature recently? Having covered 15 short inspirational stories with a moral on a variety of important topics, I hope this post has helped.

Looking for more ideas on inspiration? Click here!