Context

This famous line was spoken by Continental Navy Captain John Paul Jones on September 23, 1779.

John Paul Jones wasn't just a master of throwing cannonballs as the captain of the Bonhomme Richard during the American Revolution. He was also a master of throwing shade. When hailed by a rival ship, Jones channeled Mariah Carey from across space and time and said, "I can't hear what you say."

After a furious broadsiding between ships, the rival ship requested Jones surrender, to which he responded, "I have not yet begun to fight!" 

And he hadn't. He soon started fighting and won the battle.

Where you've heard it

You hear this, one of the Greatest Uses of Trash Talk in History, any time someone isn't going to give up without a fight.

Additional Notable References:

• This is, of course, the title of a John Paul Jones biography. 
• Got an angry letter to send to someone? Stick this stamp on it. 
• Someone tattooed this quote on his ankle. 

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Them's fightin' words.