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"I may sink, but I'll be damned if I strike!"

— John Paul Jones

January 1, 1970

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Added on April 10, 2026

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Military leaders from the United States United States Navy people Sailors Diplomats of the United States Military leaders from Scotland

Original Language: English

Sources

His much less famous response, in the late phase of the Battle of Flamborough Head, 23 September 1779, to an inquiry by his opponent (Captain Richard Pearson of the Royal Navy ship HMS Serapis) as to whether he was surrendering his ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, which was by this time very seriously damaged.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones

His much less famous response, in the late phase of the Battle of Flamborough Head, 23 September 1779, to an inquiry by his opponent (Captain Richard Pearson of the Royal Navy ship HMS Serapis) as to whether he was surrendering his ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, which was by this time very seriously damaged.