Walden+by+Henry+David+Thoreau-Period+7

From Walden, by Henry David Thoreau (From http://www.transcendentalists.com/walden_conclusion.htm)

“…I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion. … Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand…”

Paraphrase & Transcendental Elements:

Walden did this to take all of the issues and problems out of his life by isolating himself from society and "reduce it to its lowest terms." his goal is to become as simple as possible and become one with nature without the disturbance of modern life and society. This involves Transcendentalism because he is becoming one with nature and living a basic life.

He wants to live like our ancient ancestors did with no technology and corruption in society. He wants to live among the most simple means and does not want to be distracted by the commotion of modern life. Walden wants to find his inner self and it is only possible if he becomes one with nature.