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How did solitude help Thoreau appreciate society better?

Solitude helped Thoreau to appreciate society better because, as he writes in the chapter entitled "Solitude," "Society is commonly too cheap."  In other words, we spend so much time with other people: at every meal, at the post office, at the fireside at night, and so on.  We are constantly running into one another, and so we don't really have an opportunity to miss other people.  Have you ever heard of the expression Absence makes the heart grow fonder?  Thoreau's sentiment is quite similar to this idea.  He says that our constant company renders it like a "musty cheese" that we foist on each other over and over.  He believes that, when we are always with other people, "we [...] lose some respect for one another."  More solitude gives us the opportunity to be truly glad when we do have company and it prevents this company from becoming a "musty cheese" that we must endure and instead becomes enjoyable.

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