I have not yet begun to fight! this was the immortal retort of captain john paul jones to a request to surrender as he and his crew engaged in a desperate battle with a british frigate off the northern coast of england during the american revolution. And in the six months of tribulation for the united states that followed the japanese strike on pearl harbor, the one sentiment in the back of every american sailor's mind was that of john paul jones I have not yet begun to fight In the episode not yet begun to fight, jones (voiced by liam neeson) helps main character sarah see that her true loyalty lies with america during the battle of flamborough head. Jones reportedly and famously replied “i have not yet begun to fight!” serapis was soon badly damaged when a grenade caused a gunpowder explosion and it was the british who were forced to surrender.
Possibly parroting dale and sherburne, in 1848, author edward hamilton wrote that jones replied “i have not yet begun to fight!” in his “life of paul jones.” It is a declaration of refusal to give up in the face of adversity, and it conveys the idea that there is still more fight left in a person This powerful statement has significant historical importance, as it was uttered during one of the most defining moments of the american revolutionary war.
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