He was a wise and frugal farmer who offered practical advice and witty sayings on a wide range of subjects, including:
* Work Ethic: "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."
* Thrift and Frugality: "A penny saved is a penny earned."
* Honesty and Integrity: "Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead."
* Humility and Modesty: "Pride goes before a fall."
While Poor Richard was a fictional character, Benjamin Franklin used the persona to express his own views and philosophies on life and society. The almanac was incredibly popular and influential, and many of Poor Richard's sayings became part of the American cultural lexicon.