Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
While building out this site, which is always an interesting combination of learning and excitement, frustration and cursing, I pondered the question, what is the history of the high road philosophy?
<<Five hours of research later>>
As I mentioned in my About page, I started employing the high road philosophy while I worked at Zillow. Faced with what can only be described as “haters,” it was really the only way I could keep both my job and my sanity.
I am far from the first person to subscribe to this philosophy. I wish I had originated it, if for no other reason than I could make a fortune on the speaking circuit.
Fact is, the idea of taking the high road has existed since the ancient Greeks. It’s a tenet of virtually every religion. There are countless modern examples.
Here’s some of what I uncovered while I was up past midnight the last couple of nights:
The “high road” philosophy doesn’t have a single originator; rather, it is a universal principle that has been reflected in various cultures, philosophies, and teachings throughout history. Its essence—choosing integrity and kindness over retaliation or negativity—has been promoted by many influential figures and traditions.
Religious Teachings
- Christianity: The concept of “turning the other cheek,” as taught by Jesus in the Bible, embodies the idea of responding to negativity with grace.
- Buddhism: The teachings of compassion and non-attachment emphasize taking the higher path in interactions.
- Islam: The Quran encourages forgiveness and patience, highlighting the value of acting with dignity.
- Hinduism: The Bhagavad Gita discusses acting according to dharma (moral duty) rather than succumbing to ego or anger.
Philosophers and Thinkers
I had to dig deep to find my undergraduate Philosophy textbook… I loved that class, but have forgotten many of the details.
- Confucius: Advocated for the importance of virtue and moral conduct, focusing on treating others with respect regardless of their actions.
- Stoics: Encouraged rising above external provocations and maintaining inner peace through self-control and virtue.
- Mahatma Gandhi: A modern embodiment of “the high road,” Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence and dignity in the face of oppression is a notable example.
Modern Usage
- “Taking the high road” has been popularized recently through motivational and leadership contexts, emphasizing its relevance in personal and professional settings.
- Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address calling for “malice toward none and charity for all”–just over a month before the end of the Civil War? That’s profound stuff.
- Martin Luther King Jr. often emphasized the moral high ground as a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, urging others to act with dignity and love despite facing injustice.
- Nelson Mandela’s approach to reconciliation after the end of apartheid in South Africa was next-level high road trekking.
- Of course, there’s Michelle Obama’s “When they go low, we go high.” I don’t care which side of the political aisle you’re on; that was one hell of a line. Hopefully, Sarah Hurwitz, MO’s speechwriter, got a giant raise.
While it’s impossible to pinpoint a specific person or moment as the origin, the “high road” philosophy is a timeless and universal ideal rooted in humanity’s collective understanding of ethics and compassion.