private variable

The access modifier has a meaning only if you look from outside the class at the class or its proprties. 'Inside' the class it is from no meaning at all. This refers to the current object (so we're inside the class' code), hence access modifier are not relevant. Eg. you have a class Main and a class Util, then you can access only public methods/ fields/ static variables if they are public

public class Main {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println(Util.getPublicProperty());

        // does not work due to private access modifier
        // System.out.println(Util.getPrivateProperty());
    }
}

public class Util {

    public static String getPublicProperty() {
        return "is public";
    }

    private static String getPrivateProperty() {
        return "is private";
    }
}