It's not beyond the laws of physics. It is because of the laws of physics.

It has to do with piston size. If the area of the piston is 1 square inch, pumping to 100 PSI means you'll have to apply 100 lbs of pressure on the pump handle.

If the piston is 1/2 square inch, pumping to 100 PSI means applying 50 lbs of pressure to the handle, but pumping twice as many times.

For an easier-to-pump bicycle pump, look for one with a narrower body. I first bought a $15 pump that would (with great struggle and suffering, and I'm no weakling) get my tires to 65 PSI. I broke the pump actually so I took it back and got one for $5 more that was narrower and longer (longer means one stroke will pump more air, length does not affect the effort required to pump one stroke) and pumps my tires to 80 psi with no problems. Plus the new one has an 8" or so hose whereas the old one had no hose (end of the pump clamped onto the valve stem).

The new one, which I would recommend, is an Aztech (I think?) "Road Morph".