What did living in the woods teach Thoreau about the human spirit?

Thoreau learned that the human spirit has realms of expression and potential far greater than those usually realized by individuals in civilized life. He claims that most of us live our lives blindly, not questioning the strictures placed upon us and never considering to what heights we might ascend. By living almost exclusively around nature, Thoreau explored and discovered the limits of human spirit, finding that it can achieve much more important, beautiful truths when not tethered to the limitations of a world full of distractions.