From the poetry of Lord Byron they drew a system of ethics compounded of misanthropy and voluptuousness--a system in which the two great commandments were to hate your neighbor and to love your neighbor's wife.

Summary

This quote suggests that Lord Byron's poetry influenced a set of ethics that blended both a strong dislike for humanity and a hedonistic desire for sensual pleasure. It implies that these ethics prioritized hating one's neighbors and engaging in adulterous relationships. In essence, it highlights how Byron's work shaped a moral code centered around resentment towards others and a pursuit of forbidden passions.

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