"Only nature knows how to justly proportion to the fault the punishment it deserves"

This quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley talks to the idea that nature is the only entity that can properly and fairly evaluate the punishment that somebody is worthy of for their misbehaviors. He suggests that nature is the only one that can genuinely understand the intensity of the fault and the suitable penalty that should be offered. This suggests that humans are not capable of making such judgements, as they are too prejudiced and subjective. Shelley is recommending that nature is the just one that can be depended make decisions that are reasonable and just. He is also implying that human beings need to not be the ones to decide the punishments for misbehaviors, as they are not efficient in making decisions that are genuinely just. This quote speaks to the concept that nature is the only one that can be trusted to make choices that are fair and just.