parser.add_option("-n", "--network", action="store_true", help="send network related logfiles (/var/log/daemon.log)", default=False) parser.add_option('"%s", "%s", action="store_true", help="%s", default=False' % (sflag, lflag, help)) foo = '"%s", "%s", action="store_true", help="%s", default=False' % (sflag, lflag, help) print foo