Let's Learn Chinese ldioms

五十步笑百步

wu (3) shi (2) bu (4) xiao (4) bai(3) bu (4)

From 50 paces, laughing at 100 paces

During the Warring States Period (5th century B.C.-221B.C.), the Duke of Wei became so confident of his state's strength that he often waged war against other states. One day, the Duke of Wei remarked to the philosopher Mencius, "I have tried my best to rule the country, and there are no other dukes like me who think so much about the people. But the number of people in neighboring countries has not decreased and my people have not increased in number either. Why?"

"I know your highness is fond of war," said Mencius. "So I'll use war as a metaphor to explain this. Once upon a time during a battle, some cowardly soldiers wanted to flee in terror. Some ran 100 paces, others 50 paces. Those who fled 50 paces jeered at those who had run 100 paces. Do you think that's appropriate?"

"Of course not, the result was pretty much the same no mater how many steps they retreated," said the Duke.

"If your highness recognizes this truth, then you should not blame your people for not growing in number. Although you do things for your people, you have not yet solved the basic problem of subsistence that plagues your people as a whole.

"If you want your state to be strong, then you should not wage war again. Instead, devote your energies to developing production and enhancing people's quality of life and their happiness. That way, people from all the other states across the country will want to come and live here in this country."

The idiom is used to refer to those who jeer at another's mistakes when the only difference is one of degree, not substance. In English, there is a similar idiom: "Pot calling the kettle black."