Squidward works, Mr. Krabs Hoards, Patrick Does Nothing. Guess Who's Actually Winning
Squidward has a stable job, plays clarinet, considers himself an artist, and is miserable. Mr. Krabs has accumulated real wealth, runs a business, and sleeps on the floor of his own restaurant to save money. SpongeBob is probably the most dedicated worker in the entire ocean and still spends his off hours enabling Patrick's existence. And Patrick jobless, broke, living in a rock that turned out to belong to a sea turtle is the most comfortable character in the show. No stress. No bad days that stick around past one episode. No anxiety about tomorrow. Squidward is trying so hard to be recognized. Mr. Krabs is grinding so hard to accumulate. Patrick is doing nothing and living better than both of them. I don't know what moral this show is teaching but it is extremely specific.