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For naught so vile that on the earth doth live
But to the earth some special good doth give.
Nor aught so good but, strained from that fair use
Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse.
Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,
And vice sometime by action dignified.

Act 2, Scene 3 begins with the introduction of Friar Lawrence, who delivers a speech while holding a basket of plants he has cultivated. The speech is ostensibly about the beneficence of the earth, but it ends with these intriguing and portentous lines in which he states that nothing produced on earth is so bad that it doesn’t have the capacity to do some good, while conversely good things can turn bad when put to the wrong use. The last two lines of his speech (“Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, / And vice sometime by action dignified”) sum up this sentiment and are the most remembered from this complicated character’s introductory speech.

Within the infant rind of this small flower
Poison hath residence and medicine power.
For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part;
Being tasted, stays all senses with the heart.
Two such opposèd kings encamp them still,
In man as well as herbs—grace and rude will.

Joined by Romeo in Act 2, Scene 3, Friar Lawrence continues alluding to closeness of good and evil as he explains a plant that has healing powers when smelled, but which are poisonous when ingested before adding that men have this dual capacity for good and evil as well. We will later see the irony of these statements by Friar Lawrence when his well-intentioned efforts to help Romeo and Juliet badly backfire. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Symbol: Poison (the first quote) and in Quotes by Character: Friar Lawrence (the first quote).

For this alliance may so happy prove,
To turn your households’ rancor to pure love

Friar Lawerence makes this statement at the end of Act 2, Scene 3 when he agrees to join together Romeo and Juliet in marriage, which he believes will end the warfare between the Montagues and Capulets. As we will see, this scheme technically will succeed, but only after the deaths of the two lovers. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Character: Friar Lawrence (the second quote).

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