Michelle Obama's Motto Toward Hate: 'When They Go Low, We Go High'

PHILADELPHIA, PA — First lady Michelle Obama took the stage Monday night as part of the first night of speeches at the Democratic National Convention, railing against the culture of hate which she said was fostered by Donald Trump.

>>See Patch's Live Blog of Day 1 at the Democratic National Convention here.

Obama described watching with trepidation the first time her children entered a Secret Service SUV.

"What have we done?" she recalled thinking at the time, knowing the spotlight into which she was bringing her family.

"That's what Barack and I think about every day," she said. "How we urge (our children) to ignore those who question their father's citizenship or faith. How we insist the hateful language they hear...does not represent the true spirit of this country. How we explain when someone is cruel, we don't stoop to their level. No, our motto is, when they go low, we go high."

The first lady touched on the same issues of inclusiveness and neighborly unity which defined several of the evening's speakers. However, she also took direct aim at Trump, mimicking the modern era's soundbite culture and the Republican candidate's penchant for using Twitter.

"The issues which a president faces can't be boiled down to 140 characters," she said.

While a few hecklers could be heard from the crowd, there was significantly less disruption than there had been in speeches earlier in the evening, where every mention of Hillary Clinton roused the crowd into a battle of cheers and boos. Bernie Sanders supporters, who were angry with the DNC over the selection process, superdelegates, and the conduct of chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz, had made their frustration evident throughout the night.

Obama walked out to music from Sara Bareilles' song, "Brave." She mentioned Hillary Clinton early on, saying she was the "only person in this election" who she could trust to lead the country, and cited values which she saw in the former secretary of state, such as her calm under pressure and firm commitment to her work.

Notably, she praised Clinton for not being angry about her 2008 loss, and for quickly getting back to work.

"Hillary Clinton has never quit on anything in her life," Obama said

The first lady's speech followed a rousing address from New Jersey U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, who urged unity and love in the face of what he called Trump's "divisive and racist" rhetoric.

Obama also focused on the temperamental requirements of the president, for which she said Trump was woefully unprepared.

"When you have the nuclear codes at your fingertips, you can't have thin skin," she said. "You need to be steady, and measured, and well-informed."

Other prominent speakers later on in the first night included Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sanders.

Image courtesy DNC Live Feed.