okay once again y'all misinterpreting the story, the 'duckling' was considered ugly because he wasn't a duck, he was a swanling. even growing up into the what is deemed by humans mind you, a beautiful bird; the ducks still didn't accept him. he didn't get acceptance until he found a family of fellow swans. the moral of the story isn't 'have hope if you're a child bullied for your looks that you might grow up conventionally attractive', the moral is that you may never be accepted by those that other you/deem you unworthy due to your outside appearance and to try and seek comfort in community of those like you.