Quote by Kautilya: “A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first.”

In a world that rewards cunning over virtue, absolute honesty can make you a target. Kautilya isn't endorsing dishonesty — he's pointing out a real and uncomfortable pattern: the most straightforwardly good people are often the first to be exploited or eliminated by those with fewer scruples.

Kautilya wrote the Arthashastra during the founding of the Maurya Empire, the first empire to unify most of the Indian subcontinent. He was advising a ruler navigating a world of constant political rivalry and military threat, where idealism without strategy could mean destruction.

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.