In his book “Twenty-four hours at No. 4 Grosvenor Square” (Sidgwick & Jackson, 1978, pp. 19-20), the Italian diplomat Roberto Ducci has masterly depicted the qualities an Ambassador should have:

” Better that the ambassador be square than sinuous, honest and truthful than scheming and artful; let him be uncompromising in vital matters and ready to compromise on small questions; sincere with his own and with guest Government; straight in his inner self, even if sometimes frivolous in his demeanour. Frivolity should be worn by him like his orders of chivalry, without taking them seriously. Honesty, thoroughness and charm (intelligence goes without saying) are the qualities of a good ambassador. Imagination, a much rarer gift, makes the ambassador great.”

Roberto_DucciImage: Wikipedia