Thoreau believes that if human constructed their own houses, like birds do, "the poetic faculty would be generally cultivated." He regards the profession of architect as an unnecessary division of labor, because it is natural for a man to build his own house, which permits him to think for himself. In conclusion, Thoreau says that by building our own houses we would be exercising our understanding and our hands, two of the most important faculties of the soul. We would also be creating something with both our mental and physical abilities. Related articles: