Arthashastra
शक्यम् एकं वा सामन्तं साधयेत्, तेन द्वि गुणो द्वितीयम्, त्रि गुणस् तृतीयम् ॥
Or he may first put down an almost invincible immediate enemy. Having doubled his power by this victory, he may go against a second enemy, having trebled his power by this victory, he may attack a third.
english translation
zakyam ekaM vA sAmantaM sAdhayet, tena dvi guNo dvitIyam, tri guNas tRtIyam ॥
hk transliteration by Sanscript