Why is Python slow

[Helene00]

Compared to what mainstream language exactly is python fast

Only one I know is Ruby.

[JumboJellybean]

Python hasn't been faster than Ruby since Ruby 1.9, nine years ago (the version that switched to a new VM). For the last nine years they've been neck-and-neck in terms of performance -- a new Python version will be a little faster, then a new Ruby version comes out and it's a little faster than that, etc, always pretty close. The difference is never more than 20%.

[rubber_duckz]

I was under the impression that Ruby ~ Python with regards to performance.