"I don't gripe to you, Rieben. I'm a Captain. It's a chain of command. Gripes go up not down; always up. You gripe to me, I gripe to my superior officer."

I always remember that the best way to succeed is not to do a good job, but to do whatever will help my boss; either make him look good, or take some burden off of his shoulders. It's cynical as hell, but that's how life is in corporate life.