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An ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the commonwealth.

— Henry Wotton Reliquiae Wottonainae (1651)

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More quotes by Henry Wotton

He first deceased; she for a little tried
To live without him, liked it not, and died.

Upon the Death of Sir Albert Morton's Wife (1651)

I am but a gatherer and disposer of other men's stuff.

Preface to the Elements of Architecture (1624)

An ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good of his country.

Written in the album of Christopher Fleckmore (1604)

Lord of himself, though not of lands;
And having nothing, yet hath all.

Advised a young diplomat "to tell the truth, and so puzzle and confound his enemies."

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Henry Wotton (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.