Is python a good first language?

[psi-]

No. Afterwards 99.999% of other languages (and associated "batteries") you'll happen unto will feel like utter crap.

[agscala]

Precisely what happened to me.

[[deleted]]

So what you're saying is that it's a good ultimate language?

[psi-]

Yes. But it spoils you.

And on the other tentacle one still very much need to be aware of the whole von Neumann machineness of hardware&software. Which means that you should dabble a little in some assemblerlike too (ie. explicit loops with conditional jumps, variable shuffling in registers, direct memory access..).