He that follows NATURE is never out of his way

Insights

Moral Compass

Suggests that nature functions as a built-in guide to ethical behavior, and aligning with it ensures one avoids moral error or confusion.

Authenticity and Harmony

Implies that staying true to one's innate character and instincts leads to a life of coherence and fulfillment, rather than inner conflict or misdirection.

Natural Law and Reason

Evokes classical notions of natural law, where to live in accordance with nature is to live in accordance with reason, balance, and universal principles.

Stoic and Classical Philosophy

The proverb resonates strongly with Stoic and Ciceronian ideals, which hold that nature—especially human rational nature—is the ultimate guide to virtue and right living. Lyly’s citation of Cicero confirms this philosophical lineage.

Humanism and the Early Modern Ethos

In Renaissance thought, aligning with nature was associated with moderation, reason, and personal integrity. The proverb affirms a humanist confidence in the individual's ability to find truth through introspection and natural order.

Moral Flexibility in Extreme Cases

Shakespeare’s citation in *Measure for Measure* underscores a tension: nature can also justify morally ambiguous acts (e.g., saving a brother through sin), suggesting that nature as a moral compass may adapt to circumstance.

Rhetorical Devices

Maxim

The proverb takes the form of a universal aphorism, delivering a timeless moral truth in a succinct, memorable statement.

Personification

Nature is treated as an autonomous moral force that can be 'followed,' granting it an almost divine authority as a guide or teacher.

Alliteration

The repeated 'n' sounds in 'never' and 'nature' create a soft rhythmic cohesion that aids memorability and emphasis.