Franklin argues that earning money is only one part of building wealth. Income can improve a person’s financial position, but if all of it is spent, little or nothing is accumulated. Saving allows part of present earnings to be preserved for future needs, emergencies or further economic opportunities.

The saying therefore places frugality alongside productive work. It does not suggest that saving alone guarantees wealth, since income, necessary expenses and wider economic circumstances vary considerably between people. Its broader point is that financial progress depends partly on the relationship between what is earned and what is retained. Franklin presents disciplined saving as a practical complement to earning, rather than treating higher income by itself as sufficient for long-term financial security.