Shakespeare poem

They that have power to hurt will do none,-they don't do the thing they look like they would do
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,- they can tempt others but not themselves.
Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow;
They rightly do inherit heaven's graces- they earn what they get.
And husband nature's riches from expense;
They are the lords and owners of their faces,- they own their personality and no one else does
Others but stewards of their excellence.
The summer's flower is to the summer sweet,-It lasts as long as summer
Though to itself it only live and die,
But if that flower with base infection meet,-if you give into temptation
The basest weed outbraves his dignity:
For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;- after they give in they are not themselves anymore
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.

This poem by Shakespeare is saying that you need to be yourself and not give into something that you don't want to be even if it's easier.
In this time period Shakespeare and other poets write about human condition, nature, and religion. This poem is more about than human condition; although it makes references to nature. Shakespeare is talking about how people always try to be something their not and making the decisions that you have to make during life.