"You can't defend the indefensible - anything you say sounds self-serving and hypocritical"

The quote by Diane Abbott, "You can't defend the indefensible - anything you say sounds self-serving and hypocritical", speaks to the intrinsic obstacle of trying to justify actions or positions that are fundamentally wrong or unjustifiable. This statement recommends that trying to protect such actions generally leads to a defense that appears disingenuous and rooted in individual interest rather than truth or fairness.

When somebody tries to protect the indefensible, it often involves flexing the truth or overlooking vital proof, eventually undermining the reliability of the person making the defense. Using language like "self-serving" suggests that the individual is mainly worried about securing their own interests or credibility, regardless of the fact. This self-interest can manifest in various ways, such as averting duty, denying misbehavior, or moving blame, all of which weaken the stability of the argument being made.

The accusation of hypocrisy additional compounds the issue. Hypocrisy happens when there is a contradiction between what one claims to believe or worth and what one in fact does. In the context of safeguarding the indefensible, hypocrisy might emerge when people espouse particular ethical standards or judgments, yet their defense of a specific action starkly opposes those standards. This not just harms the defender's credibility but also worsens public mistrust.

Abbott's quote recommends that the more one tries to safeguard actions that are extensively acknowledged as incorrect, the more one's arguments appear weak and self-interested. It serves as a cautionary pointer that sometimes the most honest and integrity-preserving action is to acknowledge misdeed rather than effort to rationalize it. Eventually, this declaration underscores the importance of lining up actions with ethical principles and wanting to admit fault, as perpetuating false defenses can cause greater harm both personally and openly.