Being a peacemaker and practicing humility will get you further in the long run advises a short, but influential work called the Tao Te Ching. 

“She does not show herself, and therefore is apparent.
She does not affirm herself, and therefore is acknowledged.
She does not boast and therefore has merit.
She does not strive and is therefore successful.
It is exactly because she does not contend, that nobody can contend with her.”
Lao Tzu