Franklin presents the idea of a gentleman as something shaped by both material resources and behaviour. Money can provide the outward conditions associated with social standing, while good manners influence how a person is received by others. The saying therefore links status not only to wealth, but also to conduct in social settings.

The proverb reflects a society in which the term “gentleman” carried associations of rank, respectability and refinement. Franklin’s formulation suggests that wealth alone is insufficient if it is not accompanied by appropriate behaviour, while manners without material means may not produce the same social recognition. The broader point is that reputation and status are often constructed through a combination of economic position and social conduct. It does not define personal worth, but describes factors that can affect how a person is regarded within a particular social order.