Quote by Thomas Carlyle
Democracy is, by the nature of it, a self-cancelling business: and gives in the long run a net result of zero
Summary
This quote suggests that democracy is inherently self-defeating, as it ultimately leads to a balance of positive and negative outcomes, resulting in a net result of zero. It implies that democratic systems, with their emphasis on the power of the majority, can sometimes hinder progress or societal advancement by canceling out competing ideas or interests. Thus, it hints at the cyclical and sometimes stagnant nature of democratic decision-making processes.