This "meddlesome midwifery" reminds me of the famous verse thought to have been surreptitiously inserted in the Iliad (B' 559) by none other than Solon himself:
Αἴας δ᾽ ἐκ Σαλαμῖνος ἄγεν δυοκαίδεκα νῆας,
στῆσε δ᾽ ἄγων ἵν᾽ Ἀθηναίων ἵσταντο φάλαγγες.
What Solon was implying was that the Salaminians, led by their legendary hero king, Ajax, of their own volition took their place next to the Athenian ranks, in the belief that this was their rightful place. They did not go with the Megarians, from whom Athens were trying to snatch Salamis Island away, and who actually are not even deemed worthy of being mentioned by Homer at all. If we were to interpret this parable in more contemporary terms, we could do worse than resort to the well-known proverb: "Κι η μυλωνού τον άντρα της με τους πραματευτάδες". In other words, my dear Basil, do not presume to be telling me what I should or should not do. I am perfectly capable of charting my own course towards whichever fleet I like the best.
"Θαυμάζω την κομψότητα της μεθόδου σας. Πρέπει να είναι ωραίο να καλπάζεις με το άλογο των αληθινών Μαθηματικών, ενώ εμείς οι υπόλοιποι αγκομαχάμε στον ποδαρόδρομο" - ο Άλμπερτ Άινσταϊν στον Τούλλιο Λέβι-Τσίβιτα