My father taught me to treat women with respect and that good manners are never old fashioned.
Mine taught me the same thing. He also instilled in me that if I want something in life, I have to work for it. And that its a heck of a lot less expensive to fix your own stuff rather than to pay someone to fix it for you. At a young age he taught me how to fight and to be tough and not back down.
My mother taught me to live independently. She thought it was important for me to me able to take care of myself. Came in real handy all those years I lived on my own.
From both I learned the importance of family and to put family first.