The Spartans’ food, clothing, and lodging were all furnished them, though it was very poor food and poor clothing and poor lodging. They were not allowed good things to eat, soft beds to lie on, or fine clothing to wear. Such things were called luxuries, and luxuries, Lycurgus thought, would make people soft and weak, and he wanted his people hard and strong.
The Spartans were even taught to speak in a short and blunt manner; they were taught not to waste words; they must say what they had to say in as few words as possible. This manner of speaking we call “Laconic” from the name Laconia, the state in which Sparta was located.
Once a king wrote to the Spartans a threatening letter, saying that they had better do what he told them to, for if he came and took their country, he would destroy their city and make them slaves.
The Spartans sent a messenger back with their answer, and when the letter was opened, it contained only one word:
“IF!”
Even to-day, we call such an answer, short but to the point, a Laconic answer.
Did all this hard training and hard work make the Spartans the greatest people in the world?
Lycurgus did make the Spartans the strongest and best fighters in the world—but—
The Spartans conquered all the peoples around about them, though there were ten times as many—but—
They made these people their slaves, who did all their farming and other work—but—