Quote by Kautilya: “The king's strength is his army. The army's strength is the treasury. The treasury's strength is the people.”

This quote from Kautilya outlines a key principle of effective governance. It explains that a ruler's power depends on a strong army, which needs resources from a full treasury, ultimately funded by the prosperity and loyalty of the people. It emphasizes a cycle of interdependence in statecraft.

Kautilya was a chief advisor to Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the Mauryan Empire in the 4th century BCE. His work, the Arthashastra, is a treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, reflecting a pragmatic and comprehensive approach to governance.

Ancient Indian philosopher, economist, and royal advisor who lived approximately 350–275 BCE. He served as chief minister to the emperor Chandragupta Maurya and authored the Arthashastra, a comprehensive treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy. He is sometimes called the Indian Machiavelli.