Thoreau asks, "Would the savage be wise to exchange his wigman for a palace on these terms?" What do you think his answer might be?

Living at the debt of a bank or landowner in a house or apartment with too much room is preposterous. Thoreau far preferred the "savage" where his simple Wig Wam is his own castle rather than being indebted to a rich man,

"it is evident that the savage owns his shelter because it costs so little, while the civilized man hires his commonly because he cannot afford to own it; nor can he, in the long run, any better afford to hire."