Democracy is, by the nature of it, a self-canceling business; and it gives in the long run a net result of zero.

Summary

This quote suggests that democracy, due to its inherent nature, ultimately nullifies itself. It implies that the democratic process involves conflicting opinions and interests, leading to a stalemate where progress is hindered. Furthermore, the quote highlights the belief that democracy does not truly create substantial, lasting change as the net outcome is nonexistent. In essence, the quote presents a somewhat pessimistic view that democracy's own mechanisms prevent it from achieving significant and progressive results.