The Arthashastra Quotes

“Just as it is impossible to know when a swimming fish is drinking water, so it is impossible to find out when a government servant is stealing money”
― Kautilya, The Arthashastra

“Every neighbouring state is an enemy and the enemy’s enemy is a friend.”
― Kautilya, The Arthashastra

“Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.”
― Chanakya, The Arthashastra

“Dharma is law in its widest sense—spiritual, moral, ethical and temporal. Every individual, whether the ruler or the ruled, is governed by his or her own dharma. To the extent that society respected dharma, society protected itself; to the extent society offended it, society undermined”
― Kautilya, The Arthashastra

“for in the absence of a magistrate (dandadharabhave), the strong will swallow the weak; but under his protection, the weak resist the strong.”
― Kautilya, The Arthashastra

“mentioned only in the two lists and his duties are not spelt out anywhere. It is possible that this designation is a retention from earlier texts and, in the Arthashastra, is used only to represent a higher grade for salary and”
― Kautilya, The Arthashastra

“not be treated as the main one at a given time; only one of the neighbours is the main enemy. The other difference is that, in {7.6.1}, the enemy is to be outmanoeuvred but in {7.7.1} a neighbour’s help is to be accepted.”
― Kautilya, The Arthashastra

“(Cruelty”
― Chanakya, Arthashastra