For most modern languages, you can find a document or interview explaining the motivation. For example, ruby: http://linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2001/11/29/

For most modern languages, you can find a document or interview explaining the motivation. For example, ruby: http://linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2001/11/29/ruby.html http://linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2001/11/29/ruby.html (In this interview he uses the magical phrase "principle of least surprise")