Protestant ethic

Protestant ethic, set of values that esteems hard work, thrift, duty, efficiency, and self-discipline. The Protestant ethic follows from the beliefs, identified with Calvinism, that a person's time and talents are gifts from God and that prosperity is a sign of piety and salvation. The concept of a protestant ethic was formalized by the German sociologist Max Weber in his essay, “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” (1904–5). He attributed the economic success of Protestant groups to Protestant values.

See also: Weber, Max.