Profits are to business as breathing is to life. Breathing is essential to life, but is not the purpose for living. Similarly, profits are essential for the existence of the corporation, but they are not the reason for its existence.
Dennis Bakke, founder of AES

Profits are a byproduct, like happiness. Those who pursue happiness at their sole end find themselves lacking it. Those who have purpose, clarity, and discipline reap happiness in full measure. So it is with profits.