The following code may solve your problem:
def sort(array=[18,4,5,9,7,1,3,12]):
less = []
equal = []
greater = []
if len(array) > 1:
pivot = array[0]
for x in array:
if x < pivot:
less.append(x)
if x == pivot:
equal.append(x)
if x > pivot:
greater.append(x)
# Don't forget to return value!
return sort(less)+equal+sort(greater) # use the + operator to join lists
# Note that you want equal ^^^^^ not pivot
else: # You need to handle the part at the end of the recursion - when you only have one element in your array, just return the array.
return array