When you've learned to eat simply and cheaply, don't brag about it. And if you drink water instead of wine, don't announce it every chance you get: "I drink water!" First, think about how much more frugal poor people are than you. Think about how much better they handle hardship. If you want to toughen yourself up through exercise and going without things, do it for yourself — not to show off to others. Don't attempt huge feats. When you're really thirsty, just rinse your mouth with water and don't tell anyone.
When you have learned to nourish your body frugally, do not pique yourself upon it; nor, if you drink water, be saying upon every occasion, “I drink water.” But first consider how much more frugal are the poor than we, and how much more patient of hardship. If at any time you would inure yourself by exercise to labor and privation, for your own sake and not for the public, do not attempt great feats; but when you are violently thirsty, just rinse your mouth with water, and tell nobody.