How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #7
KING HENRY
The red rose and the white are on his face,
The fatal colors of our striving houses;
The one his purple blood right well resembles,
The other his pale cheeks methinks presenteth.
Wither one rose and let the other flourish;
If you contend, a thousand lives must wither. (2.5.97-102)
Seeing the dead father and son on the field, Henry is struck by how much his own decisions are hurting others. He sees the roses—the symbol of these wars—in the soldiers' faces because he feels responsible for their deaths. Henry is possibly the only character in the play who can see that his own family squabbles are destroying both his own family and others' families. Most of the other characters are too concerned about number one to take much notice of things like that.
Quote #8
QUEEN MARGARET
How sweet a plant have you untimely cropped!
You have no children, butchers. If you had,
The thought of them would have stirred up remorse.
But if you ever chance to have a child,
Look in his youth to have him so cut off (5.5.62-66)
After watching the murder of her son, Margaret flips out. Who wouldn't? That's her point to the York brothers: she hopes they have a child taken so they know how bad the pain is. Margaret has taken her fair share of sons (ahem, Rutland), but we can't help but feel sorry for her here. She might be ruthless and brutal, but here, she's just like any other mom.
Quote #9
RICHARD
Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like. (5.1.106)
When George switches back to Edward's side, Richard praises him. You probably noticed that he says that George's behavior is "brotherly." The irony is that Richard is commending his brother for acting like family (by supporting his brothers) while also plotting his brothers' downfall.