Who famously said that the ballot is stronger than the bullet?

Introduction / Context:
The statement that the ballot is stronger than the bullet highlights the importance of democracy and peaceful voting as against violence and armed conflict. Many world leaders have spoken about democracy, but this famous line is strongly associated with Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States of America. This question checks whether the learner can identify the correct source of a well known political quotation among other famous leaders.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The quotation speaks about the power of the ballot compared with the bullet.
• The options list major leaders associated with struggles and political change.
• We assume the learner has basic awareness of Abraham Lincoln and his role in American democracy.
• The task is purely recall of the person linked with this line.

Concept / Approach:
The concept tested is recognition of quotations that reinforce democratic values. Abraham Lincoln led the United States during the Civil War and is often remembered for his speeches on liberty, equality, and the importance of democratic processes. The given statement fits perfectly with his overall philosophy that change must come from the people through voting rather than through violent means. While Gandhi and Mandela also supported non violence, this specific sentence is attributed to Lincoln in standard quotation collections.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Observe the key words in the quotation, namely ballot and bullet. Step 2: Recall leaders who strongly defended parliamentary or electoral democracy. Step 3: Remember that Abraham Lincoln is often quoted in relation to democracy of the people, by the people, and for the people. Step 4: Connect his style of speaking and his belief in popular government with this specific line about the power of the ballot. Step 5: Conclude that the quotation is by Abraham Lincoln and choose that option from the list.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling that many books of famous quotations and school textbooks on civics list this sentence under Abraham Lincoln. The phrasing and tone match his other speeches in which he appealed to reason and voting rather than violence. Gandhi and Mandela also used similar themes, but exam guides that quote this exact line always attribute it to Lincoln. Therefore cross reference with study material confirms that Abraham Lincoln is the correct answer for competitive exams.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mahatma Gandhi certainly emphasised non violence and civil disobedience, but this exact sentence is not his known quotation. Adolf Hitler believed in force and authoritarian rule, so a statement that praises the ballot over the bullet does not match his ideology at all. Nelson Mandela respected democracy and peaceful transition, yet the wording of this famous line is not usually connected with him in standard references. Martin Luther King Junior also supported non violence, but again the specific expression belongs to Lincoln, not to King.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to choose Gandhi or Mandela simply because the words look consistent with their ideas regarding non violence and peaceful change. However examinations often test the ability to remember exactly who said which sentence. To avoid confusion, students should build a short personal list of key quotations with the names of leaders attached. Writing them down and revising periodically helps to secure these associations in memory.

Final Answer:
The line that the ballot is stronger than the bullet was famously said by Abraham Lincoln.