During the Warring States period, various vassal states employed strategies of 'vertical alliance and horizontal confederation,' fostering distant friendships to attack nearby enemies. Wars were incessant, causing immense suffering to the common people of all states. Mencius, witnessing this, decided to travel through the states to persuade the warlike rulers.

Mencius arrived in the State of Liang and sought an audience with the warlike King Hui of Liang. King Hui said to Mencius, "I have diligently governed my state and cared for my people, yet the population does not increase. What could be the reason?"

Mencius replied, "Allow me to use a battle as an analogy! When two armies meet on the battlefield, a fierce struggle is inevitable. As a result of the fighting, the defeated side will invariably abandon their armor and helmets, fleeing for their lives. Suppose a soldier, running slowly, only ran fifty steps, yet he mocked a soldier who ran a hundred steps as being 'cowardly' or 'afraid to die'."

After telling the story, Mencius asked King Hui, "Is this right?" King Hui immediately said, "Of course not!"

Mencius then said, "Although you love your people, you are fond of war, which brings disaster upon them. This is the same principle as the fifty steps laughing at a hundred steps."