If something's good once, it's always going to be cool. It just

The words of Shavo Odadjian—“If something’s good once, it’s always going to be cool. It just has to be quality”—resonate with the timeless heartbeat of craftsmanship, art, and truth. In these simple words, he speaks not only of music, but of all creation that springs from the spirit of excellence. For what is truly good, what is made with quality, stands unbroken against the passing of years. Fads fade like the colors of a shallow dye, but true artistry endures like stone carved by a master’s hand. Odadjian reminds us that quality is eternal, and that anything born of sincerity, skill, and integrity will never lose its power to move the human soul.

In the ancient world, this wisdom was already known. The Greeks called it arete—the pursuit of excellence in all things. To them, greatness was not measured by applause, but by harmony between one’s craft and one’s spirit. The sculptor Phidias, when he carved the statue of Zeus for Olympia, said that beauty was not in the fashion of an age, but in the precision of truth. Centuries have passed, yet his art still stirs wonder in those who gaze upon it. This is the power of what Shavo calls “quality”—it transcends trend and time, because it springs from the eternal rather than the temporary.

So too in music, in literature, in invention—those who create with heart and honesty leave behind works that never decay. Consider Beethoven, whose symphonies continue to echo in concert halls centuries after his death. The world has changed, its instruments have multiplied, its genres have transformed, yet his melodies remain “cool,” as Odadjian would say, because they were born of genuine passion and mastery. The tools of expression may evolve, but the essence of true quality does not. What is made in truth becomes immortal.

Odadjian’s insight also carries a challenge to the modern spirit, for we live in an age that glorifies the instant and the disposable. Many chase the fleeting glow of popularity instead of the steady flame of mastery. But what is easy rarely endures. True greatness demands patience—the sculpting of one’s craft, the discipline to refine until only the essence remains. The ancients built cathedrals that took generations to complete; they planted olive trees whose fruit they would never taste. They understood that lasting value requires time, care, and devotion.

And yet, Shavo’s words are not bound to art alone—they speak to life itself. A good deed, done once with sincerity, remains “cool” forever. A kind word, spoken from the heart, echoes across decades. Even the virtues—honor, loyalty, humility—may fall out of fashion in the eyes of the world, but they never lose their worth. For what is good once, what is born of truth, will always remain radiant beneath the dust of time. The quality of character, like the quality of art, is the measure of immortality.

History gives us another luminous example: the life of Leonardo da Vinci, whose mind touched everything from art to science. He painted not to impress but to understand the harmony of creation itself. His Mona Lisa, centuries old, remains as alive as the day it was made—not because of hype, but because it embodies depth, patience, and mastery. Leonardo did not chase “coolness.” He pursued truth, and thus became timeless. In this, he embodies Odadjian’s wisdom perfectly: quality makes cool eternal.

Let this then be your lesson, O seeker of greatness: do not rush to please the moment. Strive instead to create something that endures. Whether you are crafting a song, building a home, raising a family, or shaping your soul—do it with care, with integrity, with excellence. Do not fear obscurity, for the light of quality cannot be hidden. What is born of depth will shine long after the noise of the present has faded.

Thus, remember the teaching of Shavo Odadjian: “If something’s good once, it’s always going to be cool. It just has to be quality.” Make your work, your life, your actions, worthy of time’s respect. Do not chase the flicker of fashion—become the steady flame of truth. For the world forgets what is popular, but it forever honors what is good.