Amaury Forgeot d'Arc added the comment: Your first point is true, even if the Python zen (try "import this") states that "Errors should never pass silently." For your second point: exceptions are a common thing in Python code. This is similar to the EAFP principle http://docs.python.org/glossary.html#term-eafp Also, this example http://docs.python.org/release/2.7.3/library/imp.html#examples shows that exceptions can be part of the normal flow control. ---------- assignee: -> docs@python components: +Documentation nosy: +docs@python _______________________________________ Python tracker <report@bugs.python.org> <http://bugs.python.org/issue15775> _______________________________________