In Act II, Scene 3, Friar Laurence describes a relationship between good and evil and man and herbs in his soliloquy . The first reference is: "The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb, What is her burying grave, that is her womb." This says that even though we...
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are placed in the earth when we die, it also brings life through the plants that it produces.
The next reference is, "O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies in plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities; For naught so vile that on the earth doth live But to the earth some special good doth give." The Friar says that there isn't anything from the earth that is only evil; it also brings good.
The third reference is: "Within the infant rind of this flower Poison hath residence, and medicine power; For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart. The Friar says if you smell the plant it can improve your health, but eating the flower will cause uncertain death.
Friar Laurence says that if you smell the herb it can improve your health, but if you eat the plant it will cause uncertain death. This goes to prove that there is good and evil in everyone and everything. It foreshadows the events to come.
Reference: The Language and Literature Book by McDougal Littel
The soliloquy you speak of is in Act II, scene iii. Friar Lawrence comments on the ability of plants to be both helpful and hurtful, healthy and poisonous. People are the same way, one moment benevolent (kind) and the next violent or angry or destructive. He also notes that, like with plants, there is variety in the kinds of people on Earth. Here is the passage from the play:
And from her womb children of divers kind
We sucking on her natural bosom find;
Many for many virtues excellent,
None but for some, and yet all different.
O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies
In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities:
For naught so vile that on the earth doth live
But to the earth some special good doth give;
Nor aught so good but, strain'd from that fair use,
Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse:
Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied;
And vice sometimes by action dignified.
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, slays all senses with the heart.
Two such opposed kings encamp them still
In man as well as herbs,--grace and rude will;
And where the worser is predominant,
Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.
The Friar is saying that all things have the potential for both help and for harm (virtue and vice). His soliloquy is while he is picking herbs for his potions, but the properties do not relate strictly to plants. No matter what good qualities something (or someone) possesses, if they are misused for any reason, the result may be more harmful than helpful. You've heard of "too much of a good thing...", right? This idea will fit both Romeo and Juliet as the play progesses (foreshadowing) because, for them, too much love, no matter how wonderful it may be, once it is "misapplied" (becomes obsessive) will turn out to be disastrous. For them, "virtue itself turns vice" and they both commit suicide for love.