His secret poison is that he has violated who he is; he has not just commited a forbidden act as is the case with Hester. He spends the rest of his life after the act knowing that he has violated his nature, but unable to acknowledge it because of his need to continue as a minister. As with "The Minister's Black Veil," Dimmesdale's acquaintance with evil ironically makes him a better minister.
That being said, I think the quote you cite is about Chillingworth and not Dimmesdale, and refers to the hatred that consumes him and that all but oozes out of him when in Dimmesdale's presence. Let me know if I read this incorrectly.
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