What does it mean to laugh at fifty steps and laugh at a hundred steps?

It means: running fifty steps and making fun of others for running a hundred steps. It means that you have the same shortcomings or mistakes as others, but to a lesser extent, but you laugh at others.

From the Warring States Period, Mencius's "A Few People Are in the Country" (selected from "Mencius: King Hui of Liang, Part 1"), excerpt from the original text:

Mencius said to him: "The king is warlike, please It is used as a metaphor for war. After receiving the weapon, he abandons his armor and steps back, or stops after fifty steps. What if he takes fifty steps and laughs at a hundred steps? "If the king knows this, he can't hope to have more people than his neighboring countries." Mencius replied: " Your Majesty likes to fight. Let me use war as a metaphor. The war drums were beating loudly, and the two armies began to fight. The defeated ones threw away their armor and dragged their weapons and fled. Some people ran away for a hundred steps and then stopped, and some people ran away for fifty steps and then stopped. How about ridiculing others for running a hundred steps because you only ran fifty steps? "

King Hui of Liang said: "No. It's just that he didn't run a hundred steps, that's still running away. Mencius said: "If your king understands this truth, he should not expect that his people will be more numerous than those of his neighboring countries."

Extended information

Writing background:

During the Warring States Period, various countries competed for supremacy, and frequent wars resulted in large-scale population migration and casualties. At that time, there was neither a nationality system nor immigration restrictions, and people could find their own paradise at will.

Whichever country is more stable, prosperous, and harmonious will move to that country and become a subject. The number of people in a country is also one of the signs of a country's stability and prosperity. Therefore, in order to rule the roost, each tribe hopes that the population of their country will increase.

King Hui of Liang was no exception, so Mencius traveled thousands of miles to Daliang, the capital of Wei. It was during the process of contact and conversation that Mencius and King Hui of Liang got to know each other better, which led to the political Q&A that has been passed down through the ages.

Ideological theme:

The article uses the method of argumentation to force Liang Hui and Wang Chengdui to "dedicate themselves to the country". This is just a temporary coping method, not a true love for the people, and a relationship with neighboring countries. There is no essential difference in politics.

It also used the form of "chain reasoning" to emphasize that the implementation of the Tao must start from not violating the farming season, developing production, and solving the people's most basic food and clothing problems; it pointed out that the people's material living standards must be gradually improved, and then Only by accepting education and understanding the "meaning of filial piety and brotherhood" to solve spiritual and civilized problems can the people's hearts be surrendered and the country prosper.

It expresses Mencius’s political philosophy of advocating kingship, advocating etiquette and music, opposing tyranny, and opposing war. It also reflects Mencius’ ingenious debating skills and superb level of debating.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Fifty steps to laugh at a hundred steps

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