Noun
Protestant work ethic (plural Protestant work ethics)
A Calvinist value emphasizing the necessity of constant labor in a person's calling as a sign of personal salvation.
I suppose all of us - we have the old Protestant work ethic of feeling guilty when you're not working, and getting a buzz from feeling like you're really busy. That's the reason to sort of carry on. Jonny Greenwood
I've worked hard, every single day since I left school. I think I have a Protestant work ethic. Elvis Costello
I do say no to lots of things, actually! I know it doesn't look like it. But I have a tendency to a) be rubbish at saying no, and b) be pushed by some kind of Protestant work ethic. Jo Brand