Fourteen solutions begin with the same letter as their clues. These letters in order are the initial letters of the twelve words of a 2014 quotation and the two initials of its author. The unclued lights reveal this quotation in full and the author’s name.
Across
1 This reflex conceals what ends up making sense (5)
4 Chief of Staff was holding a staff lacking coloured symbols (9)
11 I present pupil with close to perfect score (5)
14 Double crossing Romeo mixed substance (5)
15 Musical has no use for song (5)
16 Try admitting sport is most honourable (6)
21 Sari when recycled? (8)
22 Alternative name used amongst islands? (7)
25 Meek savage flipping lid? (4)
27 Twist to take off with gang following us around close to Fagin (7)
28 Helter-skelter had extensive round finish for slide (8)
33 Animals with misshapen proboscis, we hear (6)
34 Success stops any distress (5)
35 Good man wasting time (5)
37 Women are positive lower animal is deer (7)
38 Cameo, perhaps, in which characters appear in order (5)
40 One checking distance after getting phone number, ’e arranged a date (9)
41 Detached piece of land has tenant (5)
Down
1 Yorkshire town, not Northern! What’s so different? They’re sharp! (13, two words, hyphened)
2 Immoral referee gets leaders to swap sides in each half (6)
4 I might rumble hustle? (6)
5 Waste away with attention (4)
6 Awkward son with one leg shorter than the other? (7)
7 What’s found in certain variometers? (5)
8 Give out 28g or so, say (8)
13 Jack not familiar with mother for now being scrap-dealer (7)
15 Chorus faltering when alto replaces hard tenor (6)
17 Confirm how you want package to arrive? (6)
18 For all that deliberation, no conclusion being reached (6)
19 Sailor’s rung with confused directions for convenience (7)
23 Take back fruit that’s not good (8, hyphened)
26 Dozy creatures freezing stuff in bedroom? (7)
29 Trafficker lifted Ming vases etc? (6)
30 Very independent models making professional calls (6)
31 Judge, in recess, beginning to explain serious matter (6, two words)
32 Calculating amount of delayed insurance returns (5)
36 Blue, but not Conservative blue? (4)
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 9 March. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers Dictionary instead of cash— ring the word ‘Dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2199, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP.
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