🧘♂️ The Zen of Python: 19 Lines That Changed How I Code (and Mentor)
If you've been writing Python for a while, you've probably stumbled across this little Easter egg:
import this
What you get back is The Zen of Python — a list of 19 principles written by Tim Peters in 2004 that capture the spirit of writing Pythonic code. But here’s the twist:
These aphorisms? They’re not just for Python. Not even just for programming. They’re a philosophy that holds up in code, in tech, and honestly, in life.
Let’s walk through them — not just to recite them, but to live them.
🧘♂️ The Zen of Python (Full List)
Beautiful is better than ugly.
Explicit is better than implicit.
Simple is better than complex.
Complex is better than complicated.
Flat is better than nested.
Sparse is better than dense.
Readability counts.
Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules.
Although practicality beats purity.
Errors should never pass silently.
Unless explicitly silenced.
In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess.
There should be one-– and preferably only one -–obvious way to do it.
Although that way may not be obvious at first unless you're Dutch.
Now is better than never.
Although never is often better than right now.
If the implementation is hard to explain, it's a bad idea.
If the implementation is easy to explain, it may be a good idea.
Namespaces are one honking great idea – let's do more of those!
📌 Why It Matters (to Python Devs Like Us)
Python isn't just about code — it's about writing code that people can read, share, and build on. The Zen is a set of reminders that help us:
Keep things clean and minimal.
Write for readability, not just the machine.
Solve problems with clarity and intent, not clever hacks.
A few that really hit home as a Python mentor:
"Readability counts"
If you’ve ever debugged a student’s spaghetti code, you know how true this is.
"Explicit is better than implicit"
That cryptic one-liner might be smart. But will your teammate (or future you) understand it?
"There should be one— and preferably only one —obvious way to do it."
Python leans into simplicity. It’s what makes it great for beginners — and maintainable for teams.
💡 Beyond Python: Lessons for All Programmers
Even if you're not writing Python, these principles apply. In fact, they’re great guidelines for writing code in any (programming) language:
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“Simple is better than complex” – Good APIs, clear interfaces, fewer bugs.
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“Errors should never pass silently” – Unless you’ve intentionally handled them.
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“In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess” – Ask, document, clarify.
This mindset is language-agnostic. It's just good software design.
🌱 Even Outside Tech
You’d be surprised how often the Zen applies to real life.
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Product design? “Flat is better than nested.”
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Team communication? “Explicit is better than implicit.”
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Decision-making? “Now is better than never. Although never is often better than right now.”
It’s all about intentional simplicity, clear communication, and practical execution.
🧑🏫 As a Mentor, Here’s My Take
The Zen of Python gives us a lens — not just for reviewing code, but for teaching thoughtfulness.
When I mentor, I try to help devs think in principles, not just syntax. Anyone can memorize methods. But great developers build intuition.
And intuition starts with values. Like these.
✅ TL;DR
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The Zen of Python is more than clever quotes — it’s a practical, thoughtful way to write code.
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It’s baked into Python’s DNA, but useful in every language.
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Its principles go beyond code. They teach us to think better, work better, and build things that last.
If you're mentoring or learning Python — or just want to write better code — this is a great place to start.
And if you're stuck on one of them?
Remember #13:
“There should be one— and preferably only one —obvious way to do it.”
Let’s find it together.
Want to talk Python philosophy or dive into real-world examples? Hit me up on Codementor. Let’s write code that not only works — but feels right.
Photo by Brad Switzer on Unsplash
