Context

This memorable quote is from the introduction to Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-69).

When the starship Enterprise set off on its five-year voyage in 1964 (or the 23rd century, but who's counting?) it was introduced to America with a brief monologue before each episode, one that inspired a generation of geeks…er, nerds…um, Trekkies to dream of "Space, the final frontier" and hope "to boldly go where no man has gone before."

That original voyage might have only lasted three years instead of a planned five, but the franchise still boldly goes new places today.

Where you've heard it

You hear this line any time someone references space travel, Star Trek, or basically any sci-fi at all.

Also, your English teacher loves to use "to boldly go" as an example of a split infinitive. Star Trek is proof that everyone's grammar will be terrible in the 23rd century.

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.

There's something inherently pretentious about space travel, and calling it "the final frontier" makes it kind of even more pretentious. We all know what happened to American Indians when settlers started exploring that frontier. Martians, beware.