What does this statment have to do with inclined planes or levers?

Question

"If you give me a place to stand, I can lift the world"

My science teacher said it had to do with simple machines. How?

Answer 1

If you have a long enough lever, and a fulcrum, it is possible to lift almost anything. The problem with lifting the Earth is that you would have to do it from space, where there is nowhere to stand (and nowhere to place a fulcrum either, for that matter) which is what the teacher meant when he said "if you give me a place to stand"

It is just an expression which is meant to point out the power of the lever, not something which can actually be done.

BTW the teacher's statement is believed to have been originally said by Archimedes.

Answer 2

I recall the original quote in full (translated from Greek, of course), was "Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand and I shall move the Earth."