diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ed42f630514..7a3dc1dd245 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -90,6 +90,16 @@ Planned Release Schedule
 | Dec 2024         | `0.11.2` | Minor, NO breaking API changes          |
 | Feb 2025         | `0.12.0` | Major, potentially breaking API changes |
 
+### Guidelines for `panic` vs `Result`
+
+In general, use panics for bad states that are unreachable, unrecoverable or harmful.
+For those caused by invalid user input, however, we prefer to report that invalidity
+gracefully as an error result instead of panicking. In general, invalid input should result
+in an `Error` as soon as possible. It _is_ ok for code paths after validation to assume
+validation has already occurred and panic if not. See [this ticket] for more nuances.
+
+[this ticket]: https://github.com/apache/arrow-rs/issues/6737
+
 ### Deprecation Guidelines
 
 Minor releases may deprecate, but not remove APIs. Deprecating APIs allows