Musar su Malachia 1:8

Nevertheless, he who diminishes this honor to G-d when he was able to increase it is considered a sinner. This is what the prophet Malachi rebuked the Jews with the word of G-d saying: "If you offer a blind [animal] for a sacrifice, is it not evil? Were you to offer it to your governor, will he accept it from you or will he show you favor?" (Malachi 1:8).

Our sages, of blessed memory, exhorted us to conduct ourselves in the opposite manner in the divine service. For instance, regarding water which became uncovered, that one must not filter them with a strainer to permit their use [for temple purposes]. They gave the reason: "when was this permitted? [answer:] For mundane use. But was this ever permitted for Temple use!? It is disqualified from the verse 'Were you to offer it to your governor, will he accept it from you or show you favor?'" (Malachi 1:8)".

To illustrate, obviously, it is proper for every person to arrive early and run to perform a mitzva, striving to be among those occupied in it. However, sometimes this could lead to a dispute, whereby there will be more desecration of the Name of Heaven and shame to the mitzva than honor. In such cases, certainly the Chasid is obligated to abandon the mitzva and not pursue it.

But there are some additional matters of Piety, which if a person were to do before the common people, they will laugh at him and ridicule him, thereby sinning and incurring punishment through him, and this is something he could have abstained from doing since these things are not complete obligations. Thus, for such things, it is certainly more proper for the Chasid to abstain from it than to do it. This is what scripture says: "and walk discreetly with your G-d" (Michah 6:8). Many great Chasidim abstained from their pious practices when in the presence of the common masses because it appears like arrogance.