Likutei Moharan 23:7/ליקוטי מוהר"ן כ״ג:ז׳

17. Earning one’s livelihood is twice as difficult as childbirth. For the woman in labor cries seventy calls, but here there are one hundred forty calls, which is twice seventy. See above. For it is necessary to be tested and refined in this desire for money before meriting to conduct one’s business matters faithfully, to earn and “give birth” to money in holiness. In other words, at the time one engages in business it is necessary to be very strong so as not to succumb then to greed at all, God forbid. Rather, one’s dealings should be with honesty and faith, and one should break and eliminate all the thoughts and confusions and the desire for money which one experiences. Instead, one’s intention should be for God alone; in order to become worthy of serving Him through the money that one earns, and to give charity to support those who study Torah, serve God, etc.

2This is why “earning one’s livelihood is twice as difficult as childbirth.” For the woman in labor must suffer labor pains and she cries seventy calls before giving birth. But here there are one hundred forty calls that the Divine Presence screams, God forbid—“Heavy is My head! Heavy is My arm!”—over those who succumb to the desire for money.

3And before people can profit financially, they need to undergo, experience, be tested and refined in the path of these one hundred forty calls. They need to cry out and pray to God to survive them in peace and be saved from them. Therefore, “earning one’s livelihood is twice as difficult as childbirth.” For whereas there, there are seventy calls, here there are one hundred forty calls. Understand this.