During the Spring and Autumn Period, Prince Chong'er of Jin was exiled for 19 years. Upon his return, he successfully ascended the throne, becoming Duke Wen of Jin. He began to reward those who had followed him during his arduous exile. However, he inadvertently overlooked Jie Zitui, who had once cut a piece of flesh from his own thigh to make soup for Chong'er when he was starving.

Jie Zitui was a man of strong integrity. He feigned illness and retired to live in seclusion with his aged mother, making a living by weaving straw sandals. He believed that those who eagerly sought rewards were "appropriating Heaven's merits as their own strength," taking credit for circumstances that were naturally destined to unfold or were not solely due to their own efforts. His principled refusal to seek personal gain highlighted the idiom's meaning.