Maximo periclo custoditur quod multis placet.
(Publilius Syrus, Sententia 326)

What is pleasing to many is guarded at great risk.

(pron = MAHK-sih-moh peh-RIK-loh coos-toh-DIH-toor kwod MOOL-tees PLAH-ket)

Comment: Like other collections of proverbs, the sayings of Publilius Syrus
don't offer much context for understanding. They may, in some way, be taken as
popularly understood sayings of his day, and so local culture supplies context.
That allows such proverbs to be understood in different ways over time.

This particular saying is preceeded by one that seems to be in contrast to it,
and so that, to me, offers a way to reflect on its possible meaning. The
preceeding proverb says: "It is an evil pleasure to become accustomed to what
is strange." Then: "What is pleasing to many is guarded with great danger/at
great risk."

What he seems to be saying is that we should avoid anything that is new or
different from what we already know, and defend to the point of great danger
those things that are already important to us. It is a conservative policy.

To the frightened individual, this must sound very plausible. It was a way of
thinking, though, that urged the Old South to enact Jim Crowe laws, that urged
Fascists in Italy and Nazis in Germany to try and "clean out" those perceived
to be "alien" from Europe. It allows Americans right now to simultaneously
complain about illegal immigrants, pass legislation that would make it
impossible for children of such aliens to go to school or get medical care and
at the same time enjoy the less expsensive services of the same illegal
immigrants who do manual labor that they (said Americans) do not wish to
perform. We want to frown on what is "alien" and defend what we already enjoy.

Imagine this "wisdom" in the hands of medical researchers? Imagine telling this
to Gallileo or Columbus or Signers of the Declaration of Independence. King
George was just avoiding something new and different, and defending with great
danger what he already enjoyed!

Don't give any attention to what is new, different or strange, but defend with
every last resource you have what you already enjoy. This is wisdom for the
frightened, and it will never anticipate what happens the day when one becomes
the stranger, the alien, the one on the outside looking in in need of someone
to notice one's plight.