Phrase: Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed

[Tom]

Hi

Please see below:

"Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed."

I think the author means to say that if you want to rule nature, you first need to obey it.(When you obey something you understand the requirements of it, don't you?)

Could you please shed some light on this one, too?

Tom

[Yankee]

.
How much more light do you need, Tom? You seem to understand the quote.

You can't ignore the rules of nature, so you can only control it if you play by the rules.

Amy