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About this quote

What does it mean?
No matter how great the force, it cannot stretch a fine cord into a perfectly horizontal straight line.
In plain terms
Even strong forces can't make a thin rope perfectly flat and straight.
What can you take from it?
Physical limits prevent idealized outcomes.

Where it applies

  • engineering
  • physics experiments

Putting it to work

  • account for material properties
  • avoid unrealistic expectations

Questions to consider

  • What are modern where idealized force?

Another view

Metaphorical usage may be stretched beyond literal meaning.

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