Michelle Obama famously said the phrase "When they go low, we go high" during her speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. This catchphrase encourages responding to bullying or cruelty without stooping to the same negative level, instead taking the moral and principled high ground. The phrase was coined in support of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign amid a highly contentious election season.
In further explanations, Michelle Obama described "going high" as not losing passion or rage when justified, but finding purpose and constructive direction in it, rather than descending into negativity or "going low," which she considers unsustainable and ultimately ineffective.
The phrase has remained a memorable and frequently cited motto for political and personal conduct since that speech in 2016.
