"Money is like a sixth sense without which you cannot make a complete use of the other five"

Money, often regarded as a material asset, is presented in Maugham's words as something fundamentally intertwined with human experience, akin to our physical senses. Just as sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell allow us to perceive, navigate, and enjoy the world fully, money serves as an enabler that enhances or even determines the extent to which individuals can leverage these natural faculties. The comparison elevates money beyond its conventional role as a means of transaction or survival; it becomes an important component of holistic living.

Without financial resources, choices and experiences are often limited. The sensory pleasures of life, savoring exquisite foods, traveling to visually stunning destinations, listening to live music, attending artistic performances, or even gaining access to environments that are safe, clean, and healthy, may become inaccessible. Money acts as a facilitator for these experiences, empowering individuals to not only satisfy their basic needs but to fully participate in and appreciate the richness of life. Lacking this “sixth sense” can create a gap, rendering a person unable to make the most of what the world has to offer.

Moreover, the statement subtly underscores the social and psychological dimensions of money. Without adequate means, stress, exclusion, and deprivation can dull senses metaphorically and literally, numbing joy and diminishing curiosity. A meal enjoyed in comfort tastes different from one eaten in hunger or anxiety. Similarly, seeing the beauty of art or nature from a position of comfort is distinct from viewing it through the barrier of want.

The underlying message does not necessarily glorify wealth, but rather highlights the reality that money profoundly shapes everyday sensory and emotional experiences. Maugham calls attention to the often-unspoken power and responsibility that money holds, suggesting that genuine fulfillment and the “complete use” of our humanity may depend on having a degree of economic freedom.