I want to pass python an argument via command line

Question

When I type python in a shell I get >>> as a result. Then if I type print "something", it prints something. I want to do both in a single command via bash script. Here is an example that doesn't work but is close to getting the point across

`print "something"` | python;

I would expect python to be executed and the print command to be passed as an argument. But this is not the case.

How can I do this:

python
>>> print "hello"

in one command?

Answer 1

How about:

python -c "print 'hello'"

Answer 2

You would need to write it as

echo 'print "something"' | python

or

printf 'print "something"' | python

but Bhajun's answer is what you really want.