Type import this in any Python interpreter and watch 19 aphorisms appear—poetic, contradictory, profound. It’s not documentation. It’s not a spec. It’s Python’s philosophical heart, written by Tim Peters in 1999 and hidden inside the standard library as an Easter egg that’s become legend.

Why “import this” matters

Most languages have style guides. Python has poetry. The Zen of Python (PEP 20) captures the design philosophy that makes Python feel different: readable, pragmatic, and occasionally cheeky. It’s not rules—it’s wisdom you absorb over years of shipping code.

And the best part? It’s an executable Easter egg. The module itself (this.py) is encoded with ROT13, so you can’t even read the source without running it. Meta? Absolutely.

The origin story: Tim Peters and PEP 20

In 1999, Tim Peters—legendary core developer and algorithm wizard—crystallized Python’s unwritten values into 19 aphorisms (with a 20th mysteriously left blank for Guido van Rossum to fill in… which he never did).

The principles guided Python 2, Python 3, and countless design debates. When someone proposes a feature that feels " un-Pythonic," this is the text they’re measured against.

Some favorites:

  • “Beautiful is better than ugly.” Code is read more than written. Make it sing.
  • “Explicit is better than implicit.” No magic. Show your work.
  • “Simple is better than complex.” Solve the problem, not the meta-problem.
  • “There should be one—and preferably only one—obvious way to do it.” Python’s opinionated clarity vs. Perl’s TMTOWTDI.
  • “Now is better than never.” Ship it. Learn. Iterate.

Try it now (in your browser)

No Python installed? No problem. Run import this live in the Linguine Runner:

The Runner uses Pyodide (Python compiled to WebAssembly) so you get real CPython behavior—including hidden Easter eggs—right in your browser.

The contradictions are the point

Notice how some aphorisms contradict each other?

  • “Simple is better than complex” vs. “Complex is better than complicated”
  • “Special cases aren’t special enough to break the rules” vs. “Although practicality beats purity”

That’s intentional. The Zen isn’t a checklist—it’s a dialogue. Software design is about trade-offs. The wisdom is knowing when each principle applies.

A philosophy that scales

Whether you’re writing your first script or architecting distributed systems, the Zen of Python holds up:

  • For beginners: It teaches you to value clarity over cleverness
  • For teams: It’s a shared language for design reviews
  • For architects: It reminds you that simplicity is a feature, not a compromise

Python’s popularity isn’t just syntax. It’s culture. And the culture starts here.

Show your philosophy: limited-edition Zen merch

We created a minimalist Zen of Python collection—clean typography, developer-grade materials, monochrome aesthetics:

  • Tees & hoodies featuring select aphorisms in terminal-style formatting
  • Posters with the full Zen text—perfect for the workspace
  • Mugs & stickers for daily reminders that “Readability counts”

Each piece uses JetBrains Mono for that authentic code vibe. It’s gear for people who think about how they build, not just what they build.

Want a custom aphorism on a tee? Tag us with your favorite line—community picks get early access.

Affiliate programs we trust (and use)

We recommend tools that make us better builders—books, courses, hardware, cloud platforms. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It keeps the Runner fast, the blog alive, and the experiments coming.

What we typically link:

  • Learning resources: Python deep-dives, design pattern books, pragmatic philosophy texts
  • Dev tools: Keyboards, monitor arms, ergonomic gear for long sessions
  • Cloud services: Credits and starter packs for experimentation
  • Books: “The Pragmatic Programmer,” “Clean Code,” and classic CS texts

Affiliate relationships are always disclosed. Browse our recommendations or search independently—whatever works for you.

An Easter egg that became scripture

Most Easter eggs are jokes. This one became a design philosophy that influenced an entire ecosystem. It’s been quoted in PEPs, conference talks, code reviews, and hiring interviews. Developers get tattoos of it. Seriously.

Why? Because it captures something rare: values that actually help you write better code.

Your turn: meditate on the Zen

  1. Open the Runner: https://linguine.ai/runner/?p=import_this
  2. Read the aphorisms slowly
  3. Pick one that speaks to your current project
  4. Refactor something to match it

That feeling when your code becomes clearer? That’s the Zen working.

The 20th aphorism is still blank. Maybe it’s yours to write.

“Beautiful is better than ugly. Explicit is better than implicit. Simple is better than complex.”

Run it. Read it. Live it.