2650: Detention for history

One of the unclued entries is responsible for a quotation that makes up the others (two of three words, one of two words).

Across

1    Precious metals Cook nearly left (1,6)

6    Netball players in mid-court for three quarters? (7)

12    Another one bites the dust, recipe being trapped wind (7)

14    Biting an animal’s brought about this? (5)

15    Married in mostly passionless times (5)

16    Caught this lassie forming a dance party? (6)

17    Top cops needing person to stop suspect (6)

19    Identifiers for Ben and James (minor characters) (9)

21    New ____ could be synthesised by men or women? (7)

24    Farmyard bird made a meal of the Spanish cagebird (9)

26    Mineral of singular red type (9)

29    Salt’s pay for late shift announced (7)

30    Bitter calm Englishman on vacation’s drunk (9)

32    Think to conceal dislike without aspiration (6)

33    Wicket taking your spin (6)

35    Ian’s pets having time for number of openings (5)

36    Father takes hurried breath (5)

37    Treat animal badly – this one? (7)

38    Director and good man leaving Chiltern town without power (6)

39    Saw, with many points (7)

40    Issue alien with a title that’s rejected (7)

Down

1      Wearsider leaves capital with mother before noon (3,4) 

2      What’s festering in rank leggings? (5)

3    College maintains college processes (4)

5    European imperialist revived Yankee charm (6)

6    Bridge to abridge (8)

7    A testee finally errs, plying this? (6)

10    Disc is silver covering scrap metal (7)

13    I covered ground I’ve broken up (8)

20    I won’t bite Sir Anthony and Sir Henry (8)

25    Painting dismissed as potboiler? (3-5)

26    Tried to slip into extremely sensuous garment (7)

27    English packs note indecent whistler (7)

28    Plain ones leaving place with Tube (6)

29    Nod head, worried (6)

31    Old woman traps black snake (5)

34    Sound distressed to lose good horse (4)

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