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This is an acrostic puzzle which uses cryptic clues. If you're unfamiliar with either or both of those, click the associated link.

A complete answer should give the quote, author and source, as well as solutions and explanations of the cryptic clues.

Oh, and in case you're too lazy to solve this with actual pencil and paper, I've created an interactive version that will autofill from the grid to the clues and vice versa. Have fun!

An accessible version for the visually impaired can be found here.

![an image of the puzzle. for an interactive or accessible version, visit the link above

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1 Answer 1

7
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The solved puzzle spells:

I was determined to master the first step of success: failure. For anyone who insists that taking one step forward and two steps backward will never get you anywhere, I protest: It will if you're walking backwards.; as shown by the first letters of the answers, this is a quote from George Watsky's How To Ruin Everything.

Clue explanations:

A. WINTER + GREEN
B. (-h)AWK + WARD<
C. TABLOID*
D. SWIFT (ddef)
E. _K + ISS
F. YOYO + MA
G. HALF-STAFF (punny def: "standard" is another word for a flag)
H. OSTRICH(-a)*
I. WEE + PING + WILL + O + W
J. TWEE + T(-r)Y (Tweety is a bird who pronounces /k/ as /t/, so in his catchphrase he says "tat" instead of "cat")
K. not sure - perhaps O(ATM + IL<)K, but it then seems like the inserted two parts are clued the wrong way around
L. ROTA(-no<)TED<
M. U + (a→(bo)P)WARDS ("top mark" = "first letter")
N. IN PAIRS*
O. N+E+W+S
P. ESSEN + C.E.
Q. V_ I_ + RUS
R. (th)EF(ts) + FORT
S. R_ + US + T_ B_ E_ + _L + T (&lit)
T. Y(E_)ARN
U. TAKE A SEAT*
V. HOP(-s) + SCOTCH
W. (I+O)+DINE (definition is "Periodically, I")
X. NERD(lihc)<
Y. G + RUN + _T

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  • $\begingroup$ Very nicely solved Dues :) $\endgroup$
    – Stevo
    Nov 24, 2021 at 2:04
  • $\begingroup$ you've pretty much got it, but you're missing the first part of the quote and your explanation for K isn't quite right (though the answer is correct). lmk if you need a hint on that $\endgroup$
    – juicifer
    Nov 24, 2021 at 5:12
  • $\begingroup$ I think K is O(ATM)IL + K just for completeness's sake, with OIL = liquid $\endgroup$ Nov 24, 2021 at 20:18
  • $\begingroup$ @TwoBitOperation that was the intended parsing $\endgroup$
    – juicifer
    Nov 26, 2021 at 17:24

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