Question

In paragraphs three and four of “Where I Lived and What I Lived For” in Walden, how does Thoreau contrast the way he lives with the way others live?
He believes that his life will last long, whereas he believes others’ lives will be quite brief.
He considers his life extremely odd and unusual, and he considers others’ lives far more sensible.
He believes his life to be extremely simple, and he believes others’ lives to be needlessly complicated.
He considers his way of life easy for him but perhaps too difficult and harsh for other people.

Answer 1

He believes his life to be extremely simple, and he believes others’ lives to be needlessly complicated.

Thoreau stresses living "deliberately" and stripping life to its essentials, contrasting his simple, purposeful life with most people's lives that are busy, distracted, and overloaded with unnecessary detail.