Python doesn't need generics because it doesn't try to statistically type your code in the first place. def example(a): return a Would be perfectl

Python doesn't need generics because it doesn't try to statistically type your code in the first place. def example(a): return a Would be perfectly legal python code. But in Go you would have to choose the type of A and duplicate the function under a different name if you want it to work with a different type. So, when a language implements static typing without generics they actually mean 'lots of code and approaches legal in Python would be rejected'. So it doesn't add a feature to the expressiveness of the code. It fixes a bug in the type system so that the expressive code is considered legal. Of course better type systems have existed since the 70's, but the set of people that know the ins and outs of how to implement those and the trade offs behind it does not include Rob Pike. His interests and skills are different (and the cause of some of the better features of Go)