beware (or fear) the Greeks bearing gifts if rivals or enemies show apparent generosity or kindness, you should be suspicious of their motives. proverb

☞ This proverb refers to the Trojan priest Laocoon's warning in Virgil's Aeneid: 'timeo Danaos et dona ferentes', in which he warns his countrymen against taking into their city the gigantic wooden horse that the Greeks have left behind on their apparent departure. The fall of Troy results from their failure to heed this warning.