1. Through the first paragraph, Thoreau states that his highest purpose is to live simply and without the excesses that most people live for. He stated: "I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so vigorously and spartanly as to rout everything that was not life, to cut a wide swath and shave to the very bottom, to push life into a corner , and reduce it to its lowest terms, and if it has proved mean, why then take all its genuine meanness, and publish the meanness to the world;” By saying this he explains his aim to live life at the bare minimum and see if it was possible and satisfying. He was looking for the deepest meaning of life, without luxuries and expenses, and lived for what was truly worth living for what life is from what it does not want it to be. I did not want to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I want to resign myself, unless it was absolutely necessary purpose but distinguishes it with another example, in this case his resignation. He tries to compare life as he knows it with the life he wants to experience, which includes a life completely opposite to the one he is currently living.3. Thoreau supports his decision to go into the woods by demonstrating that if not had he done so the result would have been disappointing. By using contradictions, Thoreau offers a sense of mystery and what if. One comment without the other would have been weak. If instead he had only expressed his personal desires without talking about regrets, the effect would not have been as great as he would have liked. Also expanding the possibility of regret, it changes the opinion of personal desire... middle of the paper... and we should try to make the best of it, regardless of time, place or environment. .13. Thoreau says, “Time is but the river in which I go fishing.” The author describes time as if it were an endless river, and also realizes how shallow the bottom is. This metaphor is the perfect description of a person's life. One minute someone might be enjoying life and being carefree and the next they might be dead. They never know what awaits them around the corner. Thoreau also says, "I have always regretted that I was not as wise as the day I was born." When we were children, we were not exposed to all aspects of life, so we were not aware of the horrible things happening in the world. Not knowing these things we were able to live carefree. As we grow, our minds grow and our lives are filled with dark images and stories that will stay with us forever.