Final answer:
The meaning of Thoreau's aphorism is to embrace a simple life and reject unnecessary excess. It underscores the value of a Spartan-like existence, focusing on the essentials of life rather than material wealth.
Thus, the correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The aphorism from Section 3 of Thoreau's Walden that reads "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..." best expresses the meaning of living a life focused on the essentials and eschewing the unnecessary. The correct answer to the question is: a) Embrace simplicity and reject excess.
Thoreau's journey to Walden Pond signifies his desire to live a life stripped down to its most necessary components. He aspired to confront life's fundamental truths and extract the fullest experience from it while rejecting the non-essential. This pursuit of deliberate living and simplification is a theme that runs throughout Walden.
Thoreau's experiment in living at Walden Pond shows his dedication to a Spartan-like existence, where simplicity is key, and richness is found in life itself, rather than in material possessions and wealth.
Therefore, the correct option is a) Embrace simplicity and reject excess