In the 'ugly duckling short story', the main moral is related to perseverance and transformation. The duckling had a rough start, being bullied and ostracized because of its looks. However, it didn't give up. As it grew, it transformed into a magnificent swan. This shows that even in difficult situations, if we hold on and keep growing, we can reach our full potential and reveal our true selves, which might be something truly wonderful that others couldn't have imagined before.
Well, the moral in the 'ugly duckling short story' is about self - discovery and acceptance. The duckling thought it was different and ugly compared to the others around it. But later, it found its true identity as a swan. It tells us that we might feel like misfits sometimes, but we should keep believing in ourselves and eventually, we will find where we truly belong.