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Python's core philosophy is summarized in the Zen of Python (PEP 20), which includes aphorisms such as these:cite-ref-pep20-67-0[65]

• Beautiful is better than ugly.

• Explicit is better than implicit.

• Simple is better than complex.

• Complex is better than complicated.

• Readability counts.

However, Python features regularly violate these principles and have received criticism for adding unnecessary language bloat.cite-ref-python-changes-2014-68-0[66] Responses to these criticisms note that the Zen of Python is a guideline rather than a rule.cite-ref-confusion-regarding-a-rule-in-the-zen-of-python-69-0[67] The addition of some new features had been controversial: Guido van Rossum resigned as Benevolent Dictator for Life after conflict about adding the assignment expression operator in Python 3.8.cite-ref-the-most-controversial-python-walrus-operator-70-0[68]cite-ref-the-controversy-behind-the-walrus-operator-in-python-71-0[69]

Nevertheless, rather than building all functionality into its core, Python was designed to be highly extensible via modules. This compact modularity has made it particularly popular as a means of adding programmable interfaces to existing applications. Van Rossum's vision of a small core language with a large standard library and easily extensible interpreter stemmed from his frustrations with ABC, which represented the opposite approach.cite-ref-venners-interview-pt-1-44-1[42]

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