--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It'll be the ballot or the bullet. It'll…" description: "\"It'll be the ballot or the bullet. It'll be liberty or it'll be death\" — Malcolm X" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/malcolm-x-213_ballot_it-ll-be-the-ballot-or-the-bullet-it-ll_3038561.jpg" --- # It'll be the ballot or the bullet. It'll be liberty or… ![“It'll be the ballot or the bullet. It'll be liberty or it'll be death” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/malcolm-x-213_ballot_it-ll-be-the-ballot-or-the-bullet-it-ll_3038561.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/malcolm-x-213_ballot_it-ll-be-the-ballot-or-the-bullet-it-ll_3038561.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f39/malcolm-x-213_ballot_it-ll-be-the-ballot-or-the-bullet-it-ll_3038561.jpg) > “It'll be the ballot or the bullet. It'll be liberty or it'll be death” [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing between voting and violent protest reflects a choice between liberty and death. **In simple terms:** Freedom vs. oppression choice. Key Takeaway Consider the power of civic engagement. Themes politics freedom choice Mood defiant urgent Type political motivational When to use this quote - elections - protest movements - policy advocacy Key Concepts civil rights activism political theory Questions to Reflect On - Is peaceful protest always effective? - When is civil disobedience justified? A Different Perspective Violence may undermine moral authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballot/) [Ballots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballots/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) ## Related quotes > [It's got to be the ballot or the bullet. The ballot or the bullet. If you're afraid to use an expression like that, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/it-s-got-to-be-the-ballot-or-the-bullet-the-ballot-or-the-bullet-if/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [If it's necessary to form a Black Nationalist army, we'll form a Black Nationalist army. It'll be ballot or the bullet. It'll be liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-it-s-necessary-to-form-a-black-nationalist-army-we-ll-form-a-black/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [A ballot is like a bullet. You don't throw your ballots until you see a target, and if that target is not within your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/a-ballot-is-like-a-bullet-you-don-t-throw-your-ballots-until-you-see-2/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [A ballot is like a bullet. You don't throw your ballots until you see a target, and if that target is not in reach,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/a-ballot-is-like-a-bullet-you-don-t-throw-your-ballots-until-you-see/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Among free men there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/among-free-men-there-can-be-no-successful-appeal-from-the-ballot-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If the ballot doesn't work, we'll try something else. But let us try the ballot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-the-ballot-doesn-t-work-we-ll-try-something-else-but-let-us-try/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [It’ll be the ballot or it’ll be the bullet. It’ll be liberty or it’ll be death. And if you’re not ready to pay that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/it-ll-be-the-ballot-or-it-ll-be-the-bullet-it-ll-be-liberty-or-it-ll/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [If ballots won't work, bullets will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-ballots-won-t-work-bullets-will/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I can take the first bullet for you. I can also take the second bullet for you but I'll let you take the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/i-can-take-the-first-bullet-for-you-i-can-also-take-the-second-bullet/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [What did you mean when you told me you loved me?? will you die for me?? will you take a bullet for me?? because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oh/what-did-you-mean-when-you-told-me-you-loved-me-will-you-die-for-me/) Oh > [I look at you, and think of how happy you are. I go home, and watch the blood hit the ground. I'll write your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/i-look-at-you-and-think-of-how-happy-you-are-i-go-home-and-watch-the/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [I won't take a bullet for you, but I'll teach you how to dodge a bullet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-won-t-take-a-bullet-for-you-but-i-ll-teach-you-how-to-dodge-a-bullet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think it's best if there's an amendment that goes on the ballot where the people can weigh in. Every time this issue has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-think-it-s-best-if-there-s-an-amendment-that-goes-on-the-ballot/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [If I put myself on the ballot and even 50 people voted for me, it'd be a travesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/if-i-put-myself-on-the-ballot-and-even-50-people-voted-for-me-it-d-be/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [If you don't know, your labor unions and community organizations, there's somebody you can ask to guide you. A lot of people, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/if-you-don-t-know-your-labor-unions-and-community-organizations-there/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) ## More by Malcolm X > [If Christianity had asserted itself in Germany, six million Jews would have lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-christianity-had-asserted-itself-in-germany-six-million-jews-would/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Be nonviolent only with those who are nonviolent to you. And when you can bring me a nonviolent racist, bring me a nonviolent segregationist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/be-nonviolent-only-with-those-who-are-nonviolent-to-you-and-when-you/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-can-t-legislate-good-will-that-comes-through-education/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We Muslims believe that the white race, which is guilty of having oppressed and exploited and enslaved our people here in America, should and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-muslims-believe-that-the-white-race-which-is-guilty-of-having/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I mean a real police state just to get a token recognition of a law. It take, it took, I think, 15,000 troops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-mean-a-real-police-state-just-to-get-a-token-recognition-of-a-law/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Like Samson, I am ready to pull down the white man's temple, knowing full well that I will be destroyed by the falling rubble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/like-samson-i-am-ready-to-pull-down-the-white-man-s-temple-knowing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Any negro who occupies a position that was given to him by the white man, if you analyze his function, his function never enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/any-negro-who-occupies-a-position-that-was-given-to-him-by-the-white/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Stumbling is not falling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/stumbling-is-not-falling/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [God is going to punish the white man for his misdeeds toward black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/god-is-going-to-punish-the-white-man-for-his-misdeeds-toward-black/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Much of what I say might sound like it's stirring up trouble, but it's the truth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/much-of-what-i-say-might-sound-like-it-s-stirring-up-trouble-but-it-s/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don't believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn't want to practice it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-believe-in-the-brotherhood-of-all-men-but-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) [Explore all 891 Malcolm X quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More Ballot quotes > [If you don't know, your labor unions and community organizations, there's somebody you can ask to guide you. A lot of people, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/if-you-don-t-know-your-labor-unions-and-community-organizations-there/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) > [I think it's best if there's an amendment that goes on the ballot where the people can weigh in. Every time this issue has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-think-it-s-best-if-there-s-an-amendment-that-goes-on-the-ballot/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [What I can accept is losing a fair election at the ballot box - if that is the will of the people. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/what-i-can-accept-is-losing-a-fair-election-at-the-ballot-box-if-that/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [That's what my Dad always told me, on the ballot, they should always have a third choice, like none of the above, then if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-white/that-s-what-my-dad-always-told-me-on-the-ballot-they-should-always/) [Meg White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-white/) > [People don't wake up to go to vote and then have their ballot not counted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/people-don-t-wake-up-to-go-to-vote-and-then-have-their-ballot-not/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [If I put myself on the ballot and even 50 people voted for me, it'd be a travesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/if-i-put-myself-on-the-ballot-and-even-50-people-voted-for-me-it-d-be/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [When and under what conditions is the black man to have a free ballot? When is he in fact to have those full civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-harrison/when-and-under-what-conditions-is-the-black-man-to-have-a-free-ballot/) [Benjamin Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-harrison/) > [Vote counting and ballot collecting does not occur in the light of day. There are too many occasions when observers and opposing parties lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schaffer/vote-counting-and-ballot-collecting-does-not-occur-in-the-light-of/) [Bob Schaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schaffer/) > [It's not the hand that signs the laws that holds the destiny of America. It's the hand that casts the ballot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-s-not-the-hand-that-signs-the-laws-that-holds-the-destiny-of/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Our cause is a common one. It is war between poverty and wealth. ... This moneyed power is fast eating up the substance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-sylvis/our-cause-is-a-common-one-it-is-war-between-poverty-and-wealth-this/) William H. Sylvis > [I'm not saying anything one way or the other about the two ballot issues. I am not speaking about the particular ballot issues. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-m-not-saying-anything-one-way-or-the-other-about-the-two-ballot/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“Ballot papers don’t determine who leads; they determine who takes which position. As to whether that person occupying the position will lead or will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/ballot-papers-don-t-determine-who-leads-they-determine-who-takes/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The right to participate in the choice of representatives for Congress includes, as we have said, the right to cast a ballot and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-f-stone/the-right-to-participate-in-the-choice-of-representatives-for/) [Harlan F. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-f-stone/) > [There is a subset of Democrats who tend to mis-fill out ballots. The way you mark the ballot is like an S.A.T. - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/there-is-a-subset-of-democrats-who-tend-to-mis-fill-out-ballots-the/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [If the ballot doesn't work, we'll try something else. But let us try the ballot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-the-ballot-doesn-t-work-we-ll-try-something-else-but-let-us-try/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) [Browse all 140 Ballot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballot/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It'll be the ballot or the bullet. 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