"Sure, CPython can be slow. It's well known that CPython isn't the greatest implementation. But for most things I do, it isn't too slow. I remember Slava Pestov often saying that there is no reason a dynamic language has to be slow. He has proven that with Factor with its awesome compiler. Unfortunately, most dynamic language designers seem to be horrible language implementers (look at Python, Ruby, etc). What's up with that?" - Travis B. Hartwell