A quotation clockwise around the grid to deduce and its author. Then five letters to change leving real words. Extra letters from 11 consecutive clues give the last instruction. Not complicated for once.
And a relatively easy grid fill. Once full the perimeter needed filling with the quotation below
WHEN YOU ASSUME YOU MAKE AN ASS OUT OF YOU AND ME – OSCAR WILDE.
I do hope the internet is right and it is not one of Wilde’s quotations – personally I find it one of the most irritating quotes usually used by people who like to consider themselves superior beings and generally, in my experience, are more the Untermensch. Oscar Wilde is a favourite wit of mine.
In the middle of the 4th row is U AND ME. This needs to change to DONKEY to fulfill the rules supplied. The remaining element is to SHADE THE ASS (starts at 35 across) meaning the DONKEY now occupying the centre of the 4th row.
Thanks Curmidgeon a gentle and fun work out – Horrible quote though
Key * anagram; DD double definition; Rev. reversed; underline definition
Across
7 Optimum from time to time and more (3)
oPtImUm = PIU
9 Great blow entailing a golf overshoe no longer used (6)
gale (great blow) around a g (a golf) = GALAGE
11 Performed last of all securing Royal Navy traditional dress (6)
did (performed) + l (last of all) around rn (Royal Navy) = DIRNDL
12 One with socialist leanings quit party finally (5)
left(quit) + y (party finally) = LEFTY
13 Intermittently sluice out place (4)
sLuIcE oUt (intermittently) = LIEU
17 Supports computer programs absorbing disheartened uni (6)
apps (computer programs) around ui (disheartened uni) = APPUIS
19 Woman in Germany, France and African Union (4)
fr (France) + au (African Union) = FRAU
20 Start of welcome warmth produces cereal crop (5)
we (start of welcome) + heat (warmth) = WHEAT
21 Marxists, lacking way to express ballot choice destroyed this autocratic system (7)
(Marxists – x)* = TSARISM
23 One who provides beams for person on floating platform? (6)
DD RAFTER
24 Little rest in rocky site in outskirts of sierra (6)
(site)* in sa (outskirts of sierra) = SIESTA
25 Go across the channel with inside info – it’s likely to produce reaction (8)
aller (go across the channel) + gen (inside info) = ALLERGEN
30 Harsh to lop off eel’s head (6)
sever(lop off) + e (eel’s head) = SEVERE
31 Situation incorporating yearning for plutonic rock (7)
site (situation) around yen (yearing) = SYENITE
34 Tangled in roots containing NO group (7)
(in roots)* = NITROSOS
S 35 Control discordant siren (4)
(siren) = REIN
H 36 Incorporate faint-hearted person ultimately dreading crowd (7)
hen (faint hearted person) + g (ultimately dreading) + raft (crowd) = ENGRAFT
A 37 Violent nausea for lichen (5)
(nausea)* = USNEA
Down
D 1 Languish, upset with grief now and then in Hibernia (4)
Rev. die (languish) + gRiEf = EIRE
E 2 Innuendo involves sister (3)
Hidden inNUENdo = NUN
T 3 Work hard with crazy fellow for this source of lubricant (6, two words)
toil (work hard) + nut (crazy fellow) = OIL NUT
H 4 Almost gigantic husband – yuck! (3)
huge (gigantic) – e + h(husband) = UGH
E 5 Some of genteelest characters regressing, are wily in Balmoral (4)
Rev. hidden gentEELESt = SLEE
A 6 As if a tsar could become this person on an animal hunt (8)
(as if a tsar)* = SAFARIST
S 8 Stand regularly more appropriate for device linking two differing parts (7)
StAnD + apter (more appropriate) = ADAPTER
S 10 Sacred songs praising the deity lacking power in relief given to the needy (4)
Psalms (sacred songs prsaising the deity) – p = ALMS
14 Belonging to sound of body, get some air (6)
in (belonging to) + hale (sound of body) = INHALE
15 Speaks disrespectfully of parts of Verdi’s sestets (6)
Hidden verDIS SEStets = DISSES
16 Sad tirades about wicked and cruel acts (10)
(sad tirades)* = DASTARDIES
18 Head father trimmed (4)
pater(father) – r = PATE
22 Folk talking wildly describing base robbers (7)
ravers(folk talking wildly) about e (base) = REAVERS
26 Gain the affection of grand eastern nob (6, two words)
g(grand) e (eastern) + toff(nob) = GET OFF
27 Predominance of downpours we’re told (5)
Homophone of rain (downpours) = REIGN
28 Cavities found in distant ravines (5)
Hidden distANT RAvines = ANTRA
29 Cash no longer necessary in Umbria, seed cover returned (4)
Rev. Aril (seed cover) = LIRA
32 Relish spot in times gone by (4)
DD GOUT
33 Sample of lisle, not thin muslin-like stuff (4)
Hidden lisLE NOt = LENO