The aim of the system was to produce strong and capable warriors to serve the Spartan army. It encouraged conformity and the importance of the Spartan state over one's personal interest and generated the future elites of Sparta. The men were said to be the "walls of Sparta" because Sparta was the only Greek city with no defensive walls since Lycurgus had ordered their destruction. Discipline was strict and the males were encouraged to fight amongst themselves to determine the strongest member of the group.