---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paraguay has had a U.S. supermarket boss…"
description: "\"Paraguay has had a U.S. supermarket boss as its ambassador for a while. He did the job well. He was there because he wanted to be there. Rather than th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/john-gimlette-11101_ambassadors_paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss_1027721.jpg"
---

#  Paraguay has had a U.S. supermarket boss as its ambassador…

![“Paraguay has had a U.S. supermarket boss as its ambassador for a while. He did the job well. He was there because he wanted to be there. Rather than the British diplomat who didn't want to be there.” quote by John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/john-gimlette-11101_ambassadors_paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss_1027721.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/john-gimlette-11101_ambassadors_paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss_1027721.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/john-gimlette-11101_ambassadors_paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss_1027721.jpg)

> “Paraguay has had a U.S. supermarket boss as its ambassador for a while. He did the job well. He was there because he wanted to be there. Rather than the British diplomat who didn't want to be there.”

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A US supermarket executive served as Paraguay’s ambassador, succeeding where a British diplomat refused.

**In simple terms:** Unconventional ambassadors can succeed.

Key Takeaway

Embrace unexpected opportunities.

Themes

diplomacy leadership unconventional paths

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- government appointments
- business leadership
- cultural exchange

Key Concepts

international relations career change motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- What qualities matter more than background in diplomacy?
- How can business skills translate to political roles?

A Different Perspective

Non‑traditional backgrounds may lack diplomatic training.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ambassador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambassador/) [Ambassadors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambassadors/) [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Diplomats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomats/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Paraguay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paraguay/)

## Related quotes

> [“Actually the only one of us who has been to Paraguay in the last thirty years is the Ambassador,” said the receptionist, “and he’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-macintyre/actually-the-only-one-of-us-who-has-been-to-paraguay-in-the-last/)

[Ben Macintyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-macintyre/)

> [I want people to laugh with me and Paraguay and Newfoundland, but I don't want to laugh at them. I hope in my books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-want-people-to-laugh-with-me-and-paraguay-and-newfoundland-but-i/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [I was writing the Paraguay book, a Paragauyan told me that only five thousand people in Paraguay read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-was-writing-the-paraguay-book-a-paragauyan-told-me-that-only-five/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [There are no young people who know how to debate, who know how to vote, and who know how to persuade people to vote.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/there-are-no-young-people-who-know-how-to-debate-who-know-how-to-vote/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [I'll always love Paraguay. It's this most exotic place configured out of the imagination, the whole country.Paraguay will always be a special place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-ll-always-love-paraguay-it-s-this-most-exotic-place-configured-out/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [It is a gift, and you realize as soon as you cross the border into Paraguay, as I did, the first time in '82,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/it-is-a-gift-and-you-realize-as-soon-as-you-cross-the-border-into/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [I slightly feel, having written Paraguay and Newfoundland - and both of them have developed eccentricities through isolation - I am quite relieved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-slightly-feel-having-written-paraguay-and-newfoundland-and-both-of/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [ In both places \[Paraguay and Newfoundland\] people rise despite everything - both are pretty tough environments. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/in-both-places-paraguay-and-newfoundland-people-rise-despite/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [“It was beginning to dawn on me that most of the history of Paraguay revolved around white men chasing after other white men in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-macintyre/it-was-beginning-to-dawn-on-me-that-most-of-the-history-of-paraguay/)

[Ben Macintyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-macintyre/)

> [My happiest time was with Paraguay. Those were five years in which I managed to find happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/my-happiest-time-was-with-paraguay-those-were-five-years-in-which-i/)

[Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/)

> [We can't make any statements here. We can't talk about the internal politics of Paraguay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfredo-stroessner/we-can-t-make-any-statements-here-we-can-t-talk-about-the-internal/)

Alfredo Stroessner

> [I always said in my career as a footballer, I owe everything to Newell's. But as a coach, I owe everything to Paraguay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/i-always-said-in-my-career-as-a-footballer-i-owe-everything-to-newell/)

[Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/)

> [“There are no coroners in Paraguay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/there-are-no-coroners-in-paraguay/)

[Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/)

> [Nobody can claim the name of Pedro, nobody is Rosa or María, all of us are dust or sand, all of us are rain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/nobody-can-claim-the-name-of-pedro-nobody-is-rosa-or-mar-a-all-of-us/)

[Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/)

> [I would like especially to mention you, the women, wives and mothers of Paraguay, who at great cost and sacrifice were able to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-would-like-especially-to-mention-you-the-women-wives-and-mothers-of/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

## More by John Gimlette

> [I was talking to my publisher in Britain and was told here we are - we are sixty million people and we reckon only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-was-talking-to-my-publisher-in-britain-and-was-told-here-we-are-we/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [ In both places \[Paraguay and Newfoundland\] people rise despite everything - both are pretty tough environments. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/in-both-places-paraguay-and-newfoundland-people-rise-despite/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [Lawrence Millman is a favorite writer of mine. He did a travels on the trail of the Vikings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/lawrence-millman-is-a-favorite-writer-of-mine-he-did-a-travels-on-the/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [American travel writing is very healthy. I'm always flicking through the reviews and I see plenty of travel writing - and an impressive line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/american-travel-writing-is-very-healthy-i-m-always-flicking-through/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [What's fascinating is where they come from in the world. People in Bangladesh, a chap in a fire-base in Tikrit in Iraq. Chap in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/what-s-fascinating-is-where-they-come-from-in-the-world-people-in/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [The United Nations was the thing I wanted to work for. Like the United Nations Commission for Refugees is what I was interested in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/the-united-nations-was-the-thing-i-wanted-to-work-for-like-the-united/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [When McDonald's opened up in Moscow - I happened to be there when it opened and wandered in. And the Russians were queuing three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/when-mcdonald-s-opened-up-in-moscow-i-happened-to-be-there-when-it/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [People my age and younger do think much more towards Europe. We have to fill the gap sometime - we can't think we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/people-my-age-and-younger-do-think-much-more-towards-europe-we-have/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [I slightly feel, having written Paraguay and Newfoundland - and both of them have developed eccentricities through isolation - I am quite relieved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-slightly-feel-having-written-paraguay-and-newfoundland-and-both-of/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [ Paraguayans have no Italian blood and are half Guarani \[Indian\] blood. And the Chileans call themselves "the English of South America," which actually couldn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/paraguayans-have-no-italian-blood-and-are-half-guarani-indian-blood/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [I am sure you have met diplomats; they probably travel far less than you do. Okay, they get to know a place very intensely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-am-sure-you-have-met-diplomats-they-probably-travel-far-less-than/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [Originally I wanted to be a diplomat, and by attrition I started giving up that idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/originally-i-wanted-to-be-a-diplomat-and-by-attrition-i-started/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [ I wouldn't like to see Cuba change in other ways. And the trouble is when Fidel \[Castro\] does go - I am sure he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-wouldn-t-like-to-see-cuba-change-in-other-ways-and-the-trouble-is/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [I don't therefore know how to write for the big papers. It must be kids - students - and retired people. And the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-don-t-therefore-know-how-to-write-for-the-big-papers-it-must-be/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

> [It is a gift, and you realize as soon as you cross the border into Paraguay, as I did, the first time in '82,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/it-is-a-gift-and-you-realize-as-soon-as-you-cross-the-border-into/)

[John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

[Explore all 61 John Gimlette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/)

## More Ambassador quotes

> [As the former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, I dealt on a daily basis with China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/as-the-former-u-s-ambassador-to-japan-i-dealt-on-a-daily-basis-with/)

[Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/)

> [I want people to have a good impression of Israel. I don't feel like I'm an ambassador for my country, but I do talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gal-gadot/i-want-people-to-have-a-good-impression-of-israel-i-don-t-feel-like-i/)

[Gal Gadot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gal-gadot/)

> [“An ambassador is a person who having failed to secure an office from the people is given an office by the Administration on condition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/an-ambassador-is-a-person-who-having-failed-to-secure-an-office-from/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [I'm honored to serve as ambassador for Screamfest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-hearst/i-m-honored-to-serve-as-ambassador-for-screamfest/)

[Lydia Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-hearst/)

> [Kate Otto, like so many in her generation, is committed to being a good global citizen and doing her part to make the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-veneman/kate-otto-like-so-many-in-her-generation-is-committed-to-being-a-good/)

[Ann Veneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-veneman/)

> [WWE is my home, and I will always stay with the WWE in some part, whether it's an ambassador, or maybe one day you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-bella/wwe-is-my-home-and-i-will-always-stay-with-the-wwe-in-some-part/)

[Nikki Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-bella/)

> [Become an ambassador of peace in your own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/become-an-ambassador-of-peace-in-your-own-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'd never imagined I'd become the ambassador of housewives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-singh/i-d-never-imagined-i-d-become-the-ambassador-of-housewives/)

[Mona Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-singh/)

> [All people who are trying to say that only a sportsman should be appointed as an ambassador, I would like to differ from them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirron-kher/all-people-who-are-trying-to-say-that-only-a-sportsman-should-be/)

[Kirron Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirron-kher/)

> [Our first phase was inviting all the women Ambassadors who were here from other countries and trying to get in touch with all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-bernice-johnson/our-first-phase-was-inviting-all-the-women-ambassadors-who-were-here/)

[Eddie Bernice Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-bernice-johnson/)

> [I'm not just about being an ambassador of Christ. I'm here also, talking with friends, being the same person that I always am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaka/i-m-not-just-about-being-an-ambassador-of-christ-i-m-here-also/)

[Kaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaka/)

> [True enough, Osama bin Laden is dead and other al-Qaeda leaders have joined him. But, the assassination of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-beauprez/true-enough-osama-bin-laden-is-dead-and-other-al-qaeda-leaders-have/)

[Bob Beauprez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-beauprez/)

> [Red Bull are backing a spinal-injury research charity called Wings For Life, which I am an ambassador for, with a programme called Faces for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-webber/red-bull-are-backing-a-spinal-injury-research-charity-called-wings/)

[Mark Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-webber/)

> [I'm a Prince of Wales Trust ambassador, so I'm all about giving youth an education, a voice and a chance to not take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-m-a-prince-of-wales-trust-ambassador-so-i-m-all-about-giving-youth/)

[Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/)

> [I'm an ambassador for World of Children and St Jude's, it always been very important for me to use modeling as a platform to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-aldridge/i-m-an-ambassador-for-world-of-children-and-st-jude-s-it-always-been/)

[Lily Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-aldridge/)

[Browse all 187 Ambassador quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambassador/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Paraguay has had a U.S. supermarket boss as its ambassador for a while. He did the job well. He was there because he wanted to be there. Rather than the British diplomat who didn't want to be there.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Gimlette"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss-as-its-ambassador-for-a-while/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ambassador"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss-as-its-ambassador-for-a-while/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/john-gimlette-11101_ambassadors_paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss_1027721.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/john-gimlette-11101_ambassadors_paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss_1027721.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ea/john-gimlette-11101_ambassadors_paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss_1027721.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Paraguay has had a U.S. supermarket boss as its ambassador for a while. He did the job well. He was there…” — John Gimlette",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Gimlette",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Paraguay has had a U.S. supermarket...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss-as-its-ambassador-for-a-while/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/paraguay-has-had-a-u-s-supermarket-boss-as-its-ambassador-for-a-while/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
