Chapter VI: Visitors

Thoreau states his love for society, describing his three chairs: one for solitude, two for friendship, and three for society.

He notes the inconvenience of a small house for uttering big thoughts, and describes his 'withdrawing room'—the pine wood behind his house.

He recounts Governor Winslow's visit to Massasoit, where there was little food, and notes that his own company was winnowed by distance.

He describes a visit from a simple, natural Canadian woodchopper, a 'true Homeric man' who enjoys his work and his life.

The woodchopper's exuberance and contentment interest Thoreau, who sees in him the animal man fully developed while the spiritual man slumbers.

The woodchopper's simple, practical view of the world and his own originality lead Thoreau to wonder if he is a genius in disguise.

He describes other visitors, including half-witted men from the almshouse whom he found wise, and runaway slaves he helped toward the north star.

He categorizes his visitors: young people who enjoyed the woods, businessmen who did not, and reformers who were the greatest bores of all.