The Greatest DenominatorGreatest Denominator

Anguttara Nikaya 5.41

BuddhismAnguttara Nikaya 5.41
Householder, there are these five reasons to get rich. What five? Firstly, with his legitimate wealth—earned by his efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow—a noble disciple makes himself happy and pleased, keeping himself properly happy. He makes his mother and father happy … He makes his children, partners, bondservants, workers, and staff happy …

pañcime, gahapati, bhogānaṁ ādiyā. Katame pañca? Idha, gahapati, ariyasāvako uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatehi bhogehi bāhābalaparicitehi sedāvakkhittehi dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi attānaṁ sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati; mātāpitaro sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati; puttadāradāsakammakaraporise sukheti pīṇeti sammā sukhaṁ pariharati. …

The same idea in other traditions


JudaismPirkei Avot 1:10
Shema'iah and Abtalion received from them. Shema'iah said, Love work; and hate lordship; and make not thyself known to the government.
ConfucianismAnalects 15.38
The Master said, "A minister, in serving his prince, reverently discharges his duties, and makes his emolument a secondary consideration."
IslamQuran 53:39-41
That man can have nothing but what he strives for; That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight: Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;
HinduismBhagavad Gita 18.45-46
(Every) man intent on his own respective duties obtains perfection. Listen, now, how one intent on one's own duty obtains perfection. Worshipping, by (the performance of) his own duty, him from whom all things proceed, and by whom all this is permeated, a man obtains perfection.
SufismAlchemy of Happiness, ch. 7
The Prophet said, "To give one's wife the money she requires is more important than to give alms." … The celebrated saint Bishr Hafi said, "It is better that a man should work for wife and children than merely for himself." In the Traditions it has been recorded that some sins can only be atoned for by enduring trouble for the sake of one's family.