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Phew! Finally finished.

That was not easy and I almost messed up by assuming that removing HER from some words was one of the alterations (based on a sample size of 2 words!!). Things eased up a bit though once I found the the 'originator' and quote and I rather enjoyed looking for the synonyms.

Thanks to Kruger.

With regard to 3d, shouldn't 'anything' read 'nothing' ?

I also wondered about that - and thought maybe it was some sort of trap. But my old Cassels French Dictionary does give 'anything' as one of the definitions.

As in 'Je ne regrette rien'. Thanks.

Only really means anything if there’s a negative elsewhere in the sentence, as in that example, so I think you’re right to raise an eyebrow

Late coming to this and finding it a grind. I don't have a misprint at 1 across, just a four letter definition, have I gone horribly wrong?

Rien does work as "anything" so long as the negative is there.

My extra letters are almost gibberish - I have ANDESTLUCHES so a couple must be incorrect. Are we in Spanish? That would be Ok territory for me!

Ken, that first A and the L are wrong. Remember the first letter(s) could be initials. You are right that there's no misprint at 1 across, but it is a thematic entry.

Thanks, Loge. On we go!

Got the bugger😁

Like some other posters here I found this one a bit of a trial. I thought the preamble was a bit too vague to be much help, and as has been already noted, there are a couple of exceptions to the cryptic directions in the quotation. (It did not help me that I hadn't previously heard of the person being quoted, and that I don't have a copy of the ODQ and had to rely on picking the 'right' translation on Internet!)

That said, I spotted some of the thematic changes fairly early on - the undead cow and the sponsors providing the breakthrough. Delighted to see quite a few Scottish references in this puzzle too.