People who don't come on strong aren't listened to. If you compromise, you won't get what you want. People won't take you seriously, or think you are a real man (or woman) unless you are tough.

“It seems to me, reverend father,” said the knight, “that the small morsels which you eat, together with this holy, but somewhat thin beverage, have thriven with you marvellously.”

They were called walkalongs, dandy horses, hobby-horses, or Draisines.

a descendant in the direct line