The Power of an Impossible Task > “You cannot push on a string (or a rope)” This simple metaphor captures something profound about futility and physics. The phrase illustrates how certain actions defy logic, no matter how much force we apply. It reminds us that some approaches simply won’t work, regardless of our determination or resources. ## A Mining Manual Holds the Answer The earliest documented use of this expression appears in an 1866 technical publication about mining operations. These authors tackled a critical problem facing underground miners: proper ventilation. Daddow and Bannan examined two distinct ventilation methods. The first approach forced air into mine tunnels through pressure. The second method pulled air out through suction. Their analysis revealed a fundamental problem with the pushing method. When miners forced air through complex tunnel networks, the pressure increased both density and friction. The air column encountered resistance at every turn. Moreover, the system required enormous mechanical power to achieve even modest results. The authors compared this futile effort to pushing a rope instead of pulling it. ### The Physics Behind the Metaphor The comparison brilliantly captures a basic physical principle. A rope or string lacks rigidity under compression. When you push it, the material simply buckles and collapses. However, when you pull the same rope, it maintains tension and responds predictably to your force. This distinction applies to countless situations beyond mining ventilation. The metaphor works because everyone understands the impossibility of pushing flexible materials. Additionally, the visual image sticks in our minds precisely because it seems so obviously futile. ## The Expression Spreads Through Different Fields By 1888, the phrase had entered political discourse. [Source](https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011666617) U.S. politician Henry Smith referenced the metaphor while discussing Congressional ventilation systems. He emphasized that pulling air through proper machinery worked far better than pushing it. Smith drew on his personal experience with powered ventilation equipment. He explained that one could exhaust air completely from the Congressional Chamber using the right approach. Nevertheless, the methodology had to rely on pulling rather than pushing. His argument reinforced the practical wisdom embedded in the metaphor. ### Medical Applications Emerge Dr. S. H. Monell adapted the expression for medical purposes in 1894. Writing in a Philadelphia medical journal, he discussed electronic muscle stimulation. Interestingly, Monell substituted “string” for “rope” in his version. The doctor explained that exhausted muscles resemble limp strings. You cannot push them to perform beyond their depleted capacity through local stimulation. The thinner, more delicate string perhaps better suited his medical context than the sturdier rope. In 1910, Monell revisited the comparison in his book about electric currents in medicine. He described telegraph operators suffering from chronic fatigue and writer’s cramp. Once their arm muscles reached complete exhaustion, forcing them to continue working proved impossible. The condition devastated workers who depended on manual dexterity for their livelihoods. [Source](https://books.google.com/books?id=ZFQEAAAAYAAJ) ## Political and Military Adaptations Congressman Thomas Brackett Reed employed the metaphor in 1896 during political debates. [Source](https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=R000135) Reed argued that uncontrolled anger accomplished nothing productive in political affairs. He stated that temper wouldn’t even untie a shoelace, and pushing harder on a rope ensured it would go nowhere. ### Engineering Education Embraces the Phrase Professor C. Frank Allen used the expression during a 1914 engineering education meeting. He critiqued a colleague’s diagram that implied pushing something through a system. Allen observed that pulling proved far more effective than pushing in most mechanical applications. The professor stated plainly that attempting to push a rope made no sense. Pulling it worked so much better in virtually every scenario. His practical engineering insight resonated with educators seeking clear examples for students. ## Economic Policy Discussions The metaphor gained significant prominence during the Great Depression era. In 1935, a Congressional hearing featured dialogue between politician Thomas Alan Goldsborough and Federal Reserve Chair Marriner Eccles. They discussed the challenges of stimulating the struggling American economy. When Eccles acknowledged that very little could be accomplished under prevailing circumstances, Goldsborough summarized the limitation perfectly. He stated that one cannot push a string. Eccles agreed that this formulation captured their predicament exactly. This exchange occurred during a period of intense economic experimentation. Policymakers sought tools to revive economic activity and restore employment. However, they discovered that monetary policy had limits when confidence remained absent. ### Patton’s Leadership Philosophy General George Patton adopted the metaphor for military leadership discussions. In 1942, The Washington Post published a profile featuring his “spaghetti theory” of command. Patton explained that leading forces by following them into battle resembled pushing spaghetti. To achieve progress, a leader must position himself at the front. He must pull his forces forward rather than push from behind. This quotation established Patton’s connection to the metaphor, though he clearly adapted an existing concept rather than creating it. Patton’s version resonated because it combined the physical impossibility with leadership wisdom. Furthermore, his reputation for colorful language helped spread this particular formulation widely. ## The Keynes Attribution Mystery Many modern sources credit this phrase to economist John Maynard Keynes. This attribution first appeared in 1970, years after Keynes’s death. Financial journalist Anthony Harris referenced what he called “Keynes’s warning” about monetary policy limitations. Harris suggested that sluggish credit demand challenged monetarist economic approaches. He recalled Keynes’s supposed observation about string-pushing, meaning that monetary expansion fails when credit demand remains absent. However, no evidence supports this attribution in Keynes’s actual writings or recorded statements. The misattribution likely occurred because the concept aligns with Keynesian economic theory. Keynes argued that monetary policy alone couldn’t always stimulate depressed economies. Consequently, people assumed he must have coined this memorable phrase expressing that limitation. ### Why Misattribution Happens Famous figures often receive credit for memorable phrases they never actually said. This phenomenon occurs because quotations gravitate toward celebrated personalities. Additionally, people find it easier to remember attributions to well-known names. The historical record clearly shows that this metaphor predates both Keynes and Patton by decades. Nevertheless, their fame overshadowed the actual originators in public consciousness. The 1866 mining manual authors deserve recognition for introducing this comparison to printed literature. ## Modern Applications of the Metaphor Today, the expression appears in diverse contexts beyond its original engineering application. Business leaders use it to describe ineffective management strategies. Economists invoke it when discussing policy limitations. Teachers employ it to explain physical principles to students. The metaphor’s enduring appeal stems from its immediate clarity. Everyone understands the impossibility it describes. Moreover, the visual image creates instant comprehension without requiring technical knowledge. ### Lessons About Language Evolution This phrase’s journey through history teaches us about how language evolves. Expressions move from specialized technical contexts into broader usage. They adapt to new situations while maintaining their core meaning. Furthermore, attribution often shifts toward more famous figures over time. The metaphor also demonstrates how practical wisdom gets encoded in memorable language. The mining engineers who first used this comparison created something that transcended their immediate purpose. Their insight about ventilation became a universal principle applicable to countless situations. ## Conclusion The expression “you cannot push on a string (or a rope)” emerged from practical engineering challenges in 1866. Samuel Harries Daddow and Benjamin Bannan introduced it while discussing mine ventilation systems. Their memorable comparison captured a fundamental physical principle that resonated far beyond mining operations. The phrase spread through political discourse, medical journals, engineering education, and economic policy debates. Each field adapted the metaphor to its specific needs while preserving the core insight about futility and physics. General Patton and economist Keynes later received credit for the expression, though neither originated it. This history reminds us that memorable phrases often have humble origins. The most enduring expressions frequently come from practical problem-solving rather than deliberate wordsmithing. Additionally, proper attribution matters for understanding how ideas develop and spread through culture. The mining engineers who first compared pushing air to pushing rope created something that continues illuminating discussions more than 150 years later.
