title: Refer to a property from inside the class itself
body: <p>Say I have a class that looks like</p>
  
  <pre><code>class MeasurementList:
  
    def __init__(self, measurement_list):
      self.__measurements = measurement_list
  
    @property
    def measurements(self):
      return self.__measurements
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>what is the most pythonic way to retrieve the value of <code>self.measurements</code> from inside the class; directly accessing the variable or going via the property (external accessor)? I.e.,</p>
  
  <pre><code>def do_something(self)
    # do something
    return self.measurements
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>or</p>
  
  <pre><code>def do_something(self)
    # do something
    return self.__measurements
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Does any of the alternatives have any speed advantages, or easier refactoring, or other factors?</p>