"I don't read anything anymore. I don't have the eyesight. I read my own copy, that's all. I think I've read everything that's worth reading"

In this quote, John Gould reviews a number of interconnected themes: aging, the value of reading, and personal intellectual satisfaction. The statement, "I don't read anything anymore. I don't have the eyesight", recommends a practical limitation imposed by age or perhaps declining health. Vision, an important tool for reading, symbolizes both the physical restrictions that aging can bring and, on a metaphorical level, the narrowing of one's focus and interests gradually.

Gould's mention of reading "my own copy" most likely describes the works or product he has produced himself. This might imply a shift from taking in external sources of knowledge to reflecting on and valuing his own contributions. The expression highlights a sense of self-reliance or contentment with his individual intellectual journey. It might also mean a reflective stage of life, where external validation or input becomes less significant compared to one's own creations and experiences.

The last part of the quote, "I believe I've checked out everything that's worth reading", is both fearless and subjective. It recommends that Gould views himself to have actually reached a saturation point of valuable understanding, discerning everything of significance as already understood. This could be viewed as a philosophical stance on life, recommending a belief in having obtained a comprehensive understanding or, a minimum of, a fulfilling one. It speaks with personal choices and judgments concerning literature and info.

In general, Gould's quote evokes the concept of an experienced person at peace with the extent of their learning and experiences. It triggers reflection on how personal and subjective the journey of reading and knowing can be. While some may see the cessation of reading as a limitation, Gould frames it as a culmination, a testament to a life well-read and lived.