The phrase "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" is a figurative expression that originated from literal nonsense, as physically pulling oneself up by their boots is impossible due to gravity. The idea behind the phrase has evolved over time and was initially used to refer to impossible tasks in the 19th century. However, its meaning shifted towards implying success through individual effort without external help. An experiment with Monopoly revealed that even skilled players attribute their successes to their own abilities rather than acknowledging luck or external factors. The author argues that no one achieves success entirely on their own and benefits from various resources, including people around them, making the phrase a myth.