Manusmriti

siva.sh/manusmriti/8/187

अच्छलेनैव चान्विच्छेत् तमर्थं प्रीतिपूर्वकम् । विचार्य तस्य वा वृत्तं साम्नैव परिसाधयेत् ॥ १८७ ॥

sanskrit

And (in doubtful cases) he should try to obtain that object by friendly means, without (having recourse to) artifice, or having inquired into (depositary’s) conduct, he should settle (the matter) with gentle means.

english translation

acchalenaiva cAnvicchet tamarthaM prItipUrvakam | vicArya tasya vA vRttaM sAmnaiva parisAdhayet || 187 ||

hk transliteration by Sanscript