Gluttony, one of the seven deadly sins in Catholicism, is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of food for fun or as "a status symbol" (Wikipedia). In this statement, Thoreau is stating that a man's diet can be simple and he can still be healthy and strong. This statement reminded me of gluttony, because I feel like today people over-eat for luxury or because they can, when really, our diet can be "as the animals."

Wikipedia Contributors. “Gluttony.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 May 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluttony.

Here, Thoreau is explaining that it is better to be comfortable and healthy, than to be indulgent in luxury but be compromised of his free space and clean air. By this example, he is again stating his position that we should not strive for luxury and that it is ok to live simply. Why be "crowded on a velvet cushion" if you can be comfortable "on a pumpkin"? The same logic applies to luxury purchases in today's world. Why buy a Tesla and be drowning in payments if you can be comfortable in a Honda? Thoreau's comparison is just as true today as in was in 1854. If something serves the same purpose, we should chose the one that meets our needs, not our unrealistic desires.