I’ve always been a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn, and for reasons far beyond the fact that I think there’s not a woman in the world that wouldn’t look good in a classic black dress and a string of pearls. Audrey Hepburn was a force to be reckoned with. She had a successful career, gave back to others, changed the world, and still managed to look so put together that after all of her accomplishments, she’s primarily remembered as pretty. In a world where twerking, Tinder and Thirsty Thursdays are becoming the norm, here are 18 reasons to kick it old school and be a little more Audrey.

1. “You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him.”

Being the friend who doesn’t trash other people behind their backs is a wonderful legacy to leave behind, especially in the age of mean girls and gossip.

2. “If I get married, I want to be very married.”

In a world where quick-decision weddings and 72-day marriages are a reality, it’s a refreshing idea to decide not to get married unless you’re going to do it right.

3. “Let’s face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.”

International icon and beauty queen or not, life is too short not to order off the dessert menu.

4. “I don’t take my life seriously, but I do take what I do – in my life – seriously.”

Life is bland without laughter, but when you play hard, you need to work hard.

5. “The greatest victory has been to be able to live with myself, to accept my shortcomings… I’m a long way from the human being I’d like to be. But I’ve decided I’m not so bad after all.”

While it’s not smart to live in a la la land where we believe we are perfect human beings with no flaws or room for improvement, we should never go through life beating ourselves up.

6. “Elegance is the only beauty that fades.”

Elegance will always be more striking than sexy will ever be.

7. “A woman can be beautiful as well as intellectual.”

Being pretty only takes you so far if you aren’t competent enough to hold an intellectual conversation.

8. “You can say my definiteness stems from underlying feelings of insecurity and inferiority. I couldn’t conquer these feelings by acting indecisively. I found the only way to get the better of them was by adopting a forceful, concentrated drive.”

Everyone, even the most successful people, suffer from insecurity. The difference is that some people use that insecurity to drive their success.

9. “The most important thing is to enjoy your life — to be happy — it’s all that matters.”

Happy girls are the prettiest girls.

10. “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others. For beautiful lips, speak only words kindness. And for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

True beauty is on the inside.

11. “If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look back on all the pleasures, excitements and worthwhileness I have been lucky enough to have had. Not the sadness, not my miscarriages or my father leaving home, but the joy of everything else. It will have been enough.”

Beautiful people are the ones who focus on what they do have, rather than what they don’t.

12. “There is more to sex appeal than just measurements. I don’t need a bedroom to prove my womanliness. I can convey just as much sex appeal, picking apples off a tree or standing in the rain.”

Overt sexuality isn’t the only way to get men to turn their heads; Audrey Hepburn is the prime example of that.

13. “Remember, if you need a hand you’ll find it at the end of your arm.”

Sometimes the only person who can help you is yourself. It will be a long, hard life if in every situation you look at yourself as a victim.

14. “Others matter more than you do, so ‘don’t fuss, dear; get on with it’.”

No one likes a complainer. Suck it up and move on!

15. “A quality education has the power to transform societies in a single generation, provide children with the protection they need from the hazards of poverty, labor exploitation and disease, and given them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to reach their full potential.”

An education is a priceless gift.

16. “Good things aren’t supposed to just fall into your lap. God is very generous, but He expects you to do your part first.”

The world owes you absolutely nothing.

17. “I have learnt how to live… how to be in the world and of the world, and not just to stand aside and watch.”

Life is too short to be passively along for the ride. Make something happen.

18. “I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people’s minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.”

No matter what you accomplish, stay humble and kind.