Kautilya's Arthashastra 7.9.20

7.9.20

laghusamuttham alpaṃ śreyaḥ //

Not so, says Kautilya: a small friend easy to be roused is better, for such a friend will not, in virtue of his ready preparations, be behind the opportune moment of work, and can, in virtue of his weakness in power, be used in any way the conqueror may like; but not so the other of vast territorial power.