You never own a good instrument...

"You never own a good instrument; it will live after you have gone." What does the sentence mean? And there is no context around it. I've found it in the textbook New Concept English. We are asked to discuss the sentence. But I can tell you that "instrument" here refers to "musical instrument" Thanks for help!

The idea applies to exceptional musical instruments that don't deteriorate with age. Some extraordinary instruments are so prized that they're considered to be virtually immortal.

This can apply to certain types of mechanically simple instruments like violins. Complex instruments like pianos or accordions don't generally hold their value.

GoesStation said:

The idea applies to exceptional musical instruments that don't deteriorate with age. Some extraordinary instruments are so prized that they're considered to be virtually immortal.

This can apply to certain types of mechanically simple instruments like violins. Complex instruments like pianos or accordions don't generally hold their value.â​what does the phrase mean?

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But why is it said "You never own a good instrument"?

嘟嘟嘟嘟;1574765 said:

But why is it said "You never own a good instrument"?

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It is believed that a musical instrument improves with age and becomes better, like good wine.

嘟嘟嘟嘟;1574765 said:

But why is it said "You never own a good instrument"?

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The idea is that you are merely its caretaker, preserving it for the next generation.

Off-topic question, 嘟嘟嘟嘟: Google Translate renders your username as 'Toot toot'.

Can we call you that?

Rover_KE said:

Off-topic question, 嘟嘟嘟嘟: Google Translate renders your username as 'Toot toot'.

Can we call you that?

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The character "嘟 "is pronounced in the same way as "do", but not with the same tone. Chinese people use it to imitate the sound of car horns to kids. And many Chinese parents like to give their kids such a nickname like "嘟嘟“ to show their love, because there is a word in Chinese "胖嘟嘟” meaning "being fat in a lovely way".

嘟嘟嘟嘟;1574765 said:

But why is it said "You never own a good instrument"?

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Because you will simply be one the a number of players who have the instrument over the course of time.