During the Warring States period, Gongsun Chou of the State of Qi consulted Mencius about the art of governance. He hoped that if Mencius took office in Qi, his achievements might even surpass those of Guan Zhong and Yan Zi.

Mencius analyzed the situation in Qi and expressed his hope that King Xuan would implement benevolent policies (仁政). This would allow the people, who had suffered greatly from continuous warfare, to recuperate and live in peace.

He emphasized that 'the hungry are easily fed, and the thirsty are easily quenched.' The people felt that such benevolent governance was as joyful as being rescued from hanging upside down, metaphorically speaking, from their desperate plight.