C

C is actually a relatively nice language if used in a certain way (intrusive data structures, avoiding dynamic allocations and unnecessary indirections) that makes it easy to produce well-performing code. Intrusive structures also form a nice lesser known pattern for generic reusability of code without lots of (void*) indirections.

Sure, it really lacks a module system, sum types and pattern matching, parametric and ad-hoc polymorphism, RAII and proper consts, but on the other hand, it also lacks the awful features added by other contenders that added some of these useful ones.

If it ain't Scheme it's shit.