Wisdom and folly
There are two wise men in the narrative essay: there is Poor Richard, who is Benjamin Franklin, and there is the hypothetical patriarch Abraham who gives speeches to the public. The scene is quite adorable, since Abraham's wisdom is fatherly and stern, but generous and gentle. The people represent a state of folly, which we see in the advice—much of Poor Richard's most effective aphorisms are quite obvious, but they represent the process of wisdom: considering the consequences of one's actions.
Saving money and working hard
Benjamin Franklin offers two twin strategies for getting wealth, and he ends the book by saying that they are essentially of equal worth: to make money, and to save money. Now, to make money is difficult, because in order to succeed in the market, one has to execute an idea to its full fruition, typically on their own, without the support of their community. Therefore, much of Father Abraham's advice is designed to help people think strategically about their various emotional and mental problems, so they can focus on their projects. Then, he says, once a person is succeeding to earn money, they ought to learn to save money. Without developing the skill of saving money, one can work their whole life and never find wealth.
Complaining
Poor Richard has a low opinion of entitlement. When people complain, he points to their hypocrisy; they complain about the economy while offering nothing to stimulate it. If they want a better economy, they should execute their business ideas to add more energy to the market. Poor Richard watches Abraham give his speech and a small Q&A, and Father Abraham agrees on every point, even quoting Poor Richard. Their consensus? That there is simply no room for complaining if one is taking responsibility for their progress in life.
