Category: Short Life Lessons

Explore this collection of inspirational bedtime stories with valuable lessons. All stories here are inspirational and provide many lessons to be learned.

The Ant and The Dove

Once upon a time, in a forest, a little ant was searching for water. It wandered and wandered until it found a spring. But oh no! The ant slipped and started to drown.

Luckily, a kind dove was flying nearby and saw the ant in trouble. The dove quickly grabbed a twig and dropped it into the water. The ant grabbed onto the twig and the dove gently brought it to safety on the ground.

But there was more danger! A hunter wanted to catch the dove with a net. The clever ant realized what was happening. It bravely bit the hunter’s foot, making him drop the net in pain. The dove flew away, safe and sound.

Moral of the story: One good action leads to another.

The Thirsty Crow

On a hot day, a thirsty crow flew around the fields searching for water. But there was none to be found. The crow started feeling weak and lost hope.

Just then, it noticed a water jug under a tree. Excitedly, the crow flew down to see if there was any water inside. And yes, it could see some water!

The crow tried putting its head into the jug, but the jug’s neck was too narrow. Then it tried to push the jug to make the water flow out, but the jug was too heavy.

The crow thought hard for a moment. Then it looked around and saw some pebbles nearby. Suddenly, it got a clever idea!

It started picking up the pebbles one by one and dropping them into the jug. As more and more pebbles fell into the jug, the water level began to rise. Soon, it was high enough for the crow to drink. The crow’s plan had worked!

Moral of the story: If you think and work hard, you can find a solution to any problem.

Honesty is the Best Policy Story – The Honest Woodcutter

Once upon a time, there lived a poor woodcutter named Ramu. He lived with his wife and two children in a small hut. Everyday Ramu would go in the forest and chop trees for wood. He would then sell the wood in the market and earn a meagre income to support his family. Though poor, Ramu was a very honest man.

One day, while Ramu was chopping wood in the forest, the axe slipped from his hand and fell into the river that flowed nearby. Ramu was very sad and worried, as he knew that he would not be able to replace the axe and would now have to find some other means of livelihood.

He prayed sincerly for his axe, and a goddess appeared from the river. She asked Ramu what he had lost and why he was so sad. Ramu told her everything.

Goddess, then went back into the river and came back with a silver axe, Ramu said that it wasn’t his axe. Goddess, once again went back into the river and this time came back with an golden axe, again Ramu said that it wasn’t his axe.

The Goddess smiled and pulled out his iron axe from the river and gave it to him. Ramu was delighted to get back his old axe and thanked the Goddess.

Goddess was very happy with Ramu’s honesty and rewarded him with the silver and the golden axe. Ramu was overwhelmed with happiness and went back home with his new found wealth.

Moral of the story: Honesty is always the best policy. It is better to lose something temporarily than to lose your honesty and integrity forever.

The Wise Man

A wise man used to give advice to anyone who approached him. Over the years, he noticed that people had been complaining about the same problems to him.

One day, he told a joke, which made everyone laugh out loud.

He told them the same joke after a few minutes, and only a few of them smiled.

The third time he told the same joke, no one laughed.

He smiled and said, “You can’t laugh at the same joke over and over. So why are you always crying about the same problem?”

Moral of the Story: You won’t solve your problems if you worry; you’ll just waste your time and energy.

Haughty Oak Tree

In the oak tree’s eyes, he was a robust tree. He thought to himself, “I am way stronger than these weak reeds. Unlike them, I stand alone in the storm, never bend to the wind’s will.”

The same night nature took a toll, a powerful storm came.

In the morning, reeds found the mighty oak tree uprooted. They said, “Oh lord, we are grateful that we can bend and don’t just break.”

Moral of the Story: Pride takes a fall.

Hungry Silly Mouse

A hungry mouse came across a basket full of corn. He cut a small hole through it and crawled inside. He ate a lot of corn.

Having satisfied his hunger, he tried to exit through the same hole, but due to increased belly, it couldn’t get out. He thought he should wait for the belly to shrink and slept in the basket.

The next morning, his belly had shrunk. Before leaving, he wanted to eat some more corn. Like earlier, he couldn’t control and ate a lot again. He tried to exit, but couldn’t leave this time too.

He waited there for the belly to shrink, but by that time a hungry cat was passing by. She smelled the rat, opened the basket lid, and ate the mouse.

Moral of the Story – Greed is an evil

The Slow But Smart Snail

A horse was very proud of his speed. Once he saw a snail and mocked him. The horse said, “Hey there, snail. Let’s have a race.” The snail didn’t reply and the horse laughed at him.

The snail got angry and accepted the challenge, saying the race will happen tomorrow.

He went home and made a plan with all his snail friends to outrace the horse. Since they all looked alike, the next day they hid in different places from starting to the finish line.

After the race started, the horse covered a small distance. He looked down to find the snail ahead of him.

He increased his speed, but every time he looked down, the snail was already ahead of him. The horse couldn’t match the snail’s speed and gave up.

He said, “I lose, I can’t win the race. You are faster.” The snail laughed hard.

Moral – Smart work is much faster.

The Ugly Mango Tree

There were a mango and a banyan tree next to each other. The banyan tree was an abode to various species of animals and birds. Whereas, the mango tree had juicy fruits. People always came to eat the mangoes from the tree.

No one ever paid much attention to the old banyan tree. The mango tree said to the banyan tree, “No one ever looks at you. They all want me and my fruits but nothing from you. I’m the best.”

The next day king’s soldiers came and ruthlessly plucked all the mangoes. They left the broken branches and scanty leaves on the mango tree which had never looked so ugly.

To this, the banyan tree said, “Now look at you. Without your beauty and fruits, you are less likely to attract anyone. Your beauty ruined you. While I stand here safe and provide shade. I’m still useful.”

Moral – Never be too proud of your beauty.

Don’t Give Up Just Yet

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Akash who lived in a village. He was upset because his village faced a drought. Everything was drying up, the cattle were starving, and the crops were dying.

He went to the villagers and told them, “Remember, our grandparents told us stories that there is an underground river flowing through our village. We should all start digging to see.”

The next morning, everyone started digging with hopes to find water. But after several hours of struggle, everyone was exhausted and gave up hope.

But Akash didn’t stop and kept digging until he saw some water. He screamed in happiness, called everyone, and said, “Don’t give up just yet.”

Other villagers continued digging with him and dug a well to store water. Everyone was happy as they never had to face another drought.

Moral of the story: Hard work pays off in time.

Never Spread Rumors About Others

An old man once spread rumors that his neighbor was a thief. The neighbor was arrested and released a few days after he was proved innocent.

He sued the old man for defaming him. The old man defended himself in the court saying that those were just words, and they didn’t harm his neighbor in any way.

The judge asked the old man to write down all the things he said in a paper, tear it into small pieces and throw them away on his way back home. The hearing was to be continued the next day.

The next day, when the old man came to the court, before announcing the sentence, the judge asked him to go back and collect all the pieces of paper that he threw away on his way back home. The old man said, “It is impossible. I won’t be able to find them as the wind carried and scattered them at many different places.”

To this, the judge replied, “In the same way, your words have spread and now you can’t take them back because your neighbor’s reputation is already harmed.”

Moral – Don’t say things you cannot take back.