They say[1] that all people of wisdom and character are severe, by virtue of the fact that they neither interact with people in accordance with pleasure, nor do they approve of what is done among others in accordance with pleasure. And [they say that] another person can be called 'severe' in comparison with 'severe wine', which they use in the preparation of drugs but not often as a beverage.
Comedy portrays the severe man as boorish.[2]