John Chrysostom

And, in a word, it is ever necessary that he who would please God and become approved and holy should not lead an easy, free, and dissolute life, but a laborious life, full of hardship and toil. For "no man," it is said, "is crowned except he strive lawfully," and in another place, "Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things." He abstains from evil words and looks, from base conversation and slander, and from blasphemy and evil speaking. From this we learn that, though trial may not come upon us from any external source, it is our duty to exercise ourselves each day in fasting, self-denial, moderate diet, and a plain table, avoiding extravagance in any way. Otherwise we cannot please God.