Kautilya's Arthashastra 8.2.23

8.2.23

durbalam abhijātaṃ prakṛtayaḥ svayam upanamanti, jātyam aiśvaryaprakṛtir anuvartata iti //

No, says Kautilya, a people will naturally obey a high-born king though he is weak, for the tendency of a prosperous people is to follow a high-born king. Also they render the intrigues of a strong but base-born person, unavailing, as the saying is, that possession of virtues makes for friendship.