Although Thoreau goes to great lengths to get away from organized society, he is still unquestionably a humanist.

I think he believed in the freedom and beauty of the individual. He believed in the ability of the individual to realize their own potential and forge their own way. Thoreau also believed that in our race for mass consumption only a few become wealthy at the expense of many, "a few are riding, but the rest are run over." This is why he believed that we should all simplify and live according to our basic needs but no more.