Lisp was my first contact with Functional Programming so maybe I’m a little biased.
I fell in love with SICP as it opened my mind for so many new concepts.
I like the (lack of) syntax. Everything is consistent because the syntax is so simple… you can learn programming in just a few minutes if you have Lisp and a good teacher.
The fact that you can redefine some “core” functions like using the + symbol is enough for me to show that I’m really in control when I’m using Lisp, although I know that not every Lisp let you do that.
It fells like most languages get in the way sooner or later, but Lisp normally will not restrain your creativity since you can manipulate the structure and syntax as much as you want with the “code is data” concept.
Then we have the REPL. The Common Lisp REPL and the CL Condition System is just incredible, you don’t have anything like that available for any other language afaik. And you have some nice tools such as Slime that really makes you not want to code in any other language if you allow yourself to be too much spoiled for it.
I had not much time to play with LFE as of yet, but still I feel exactly like in the quote, if I can have Lisp and OTP in the same place, that’s for me!