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The contemporary model of a Polish diplomat is the result of a long evolution. The first mentions of the topic date back to antiquity and the Middle Ages. It was not until modern times, however, that more interest was vested in this issue. In Western Europe, Niccolo Machiavelli, Torquato Tasso, Abraham de Wicquefort, François de Callierrès, Harold Nicolson, and others have commented on this topic. In Poland, Jakub Przyłuski, Krzysztof Warszewicki, Wawrzyniec Piaseczyński, Stanisław Miński, Tadeusz Morski, Adam Czartoryski – and currently Jerzy M. Nowak, Roman Czyżycki, and Bogdan Grzeloński – have discussed the virtues and vices of diplomats. Their remarks provide a sufficient basis for developing a model of a diplomat and following its evolution over the span of five centuries. To achieve this goal, I utilized my proprietary method of pattern research, analyzing the four components of genealogical, personality, professional, and social conditions. The first is related to one's birth, which can lead to a comprehensive education, good physical condition and inherited wealth. The last one was important in the past, but of no importance now. The second concerns the personal predispositions of a diplomat, in which effectiveness initially took precedence over morality, but morality is now on par with effectiveness. The next set of determinants relates to professionalism, which entails a great responsibility for the position of the state in the international arena and for the fate of one's fellow citizens. Thus, it is more than a profession, as it constitutes a kind of mission and service to one's country. The last component – social conditions – determines the relationships with members of the diplomatic corps, which is especially important today, now that diplomacy has become a team sport. Such a pattern remains difficult to follow, both for past and present generations. However, it is still a desired object of aspiration meant to transform into actual patterns.

The monograph by Jan Ryś deserves recognition owing to a number of reasons. It is due to the references to numerous sources, interdisciplinary narration, and therefore, the wide-ranging discourse that includes previous findings, which are complemented by the authorial novum. Thanks to the undertaken measures, the reader is granted a complementary, comprehensive publication, inclusive towards a broad research perspective, at the same time based on a consistent argumentation, which ultimately resulted in a coherent, firmly established in the atmosphere of the epoch, work. Texts of this kind, as opposed to those of a narrow scope of interest, are particularly valuable as they inspire scientific discussions. In the case of Żołnierska paideia one should consider an opinion, popular, though controversial as it is presented in the literature on the subject, that for the benefit of self-interest and opportunism of nobles the soldier's morale has undergone gradual devaluation. Meanwhile, as it is proven by the sources of the period, the viewpoint does not find its confirmation in the old-Polish standards. Not only in the relatively peaceful 16th century, but also in the scarred by the constant wars 17th century, it is difficult to find even a hint of acknowledgement towards the negligence of the current norms. The deviations did occur in the heat of battle, which caused massive losses and bankruptcies. They did not lead, however, to the depreciation of the then principles, which for a long time have set a course of the noble axiology. ; Monografia Jana Rysia z wielu względów zasługuje na uwagę. Przesądzają o tym odniesienia do licznych źródeł, interdyscyplinarna narracja, a co za tym idzie wielowątkowy dyskurs, uwzględniający dotychczasowe ustalenia, uzupełnione o autorskie novum. Dzięki tym zabiegom do rąk czytelników trafiła publikacja komplementarna, panoramiczna, uwzględniająca szeroką perspektywę badawczą, a przy tym oparta na logicznym wywodzie, co w ostatecznym rozrachunku przełożyło się na pracę spójną treściowo i mocno osadzoną w realiach epoki. Tego rodzaju prace, w przeciwieństwie do tych o wąskim spectrum badawczym, mają tę zaletę, że inspirują do naukowej dyskusji. W przypadku Żołnierskiej paidei za kontrowersyjną, acz dość popularną w literaturze przedmiotu, należy uznać opinię o stopniowej dewaluacji morale żołnierskiego, zwłaszcza w XVII w., na rzecz szlacheckiej prywaty i koniunkturalizmu. Tymczasem, jak zaświadczają źródła z epoki, taki pogląd nie znajduje potwierdzenia w staropolskich standardach. Nie tylko w stosunkowo spokojnym XVI stuleciu, ale także w naznaczonym licznymi wojnami XVII w., trudno szukać choćby cienia akceptacji dla lekceważenia obowiązujących norm. Nie oznacza to, że w nieustannym ogniu walk skutkującym masowymi stratami i bankructwami, takie odstępstwa się nie zdarzały. Nigdy jednak nie przekładały się na obniżenie rangi obowiązujących standardów, które na mocy długiego trwania długo jeszcze wyznaczały azymut szlacheckiej aksjologii.