How would you finish this sentence: "The best advice my mom ever gave me was ..."

We asked around the office, to see what AOL and Holidash staff had learned from their moms. Our conclusion? We have smart moms.
Vicki Passmore

Mom knows best, at least at our office. Credit: Vicki Passmore

"My mom always said this growing up, and now I say this to my kids: 'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.'"
Vicki Passmore, AOL Money & Finance

"My mom always listens with an open mind and an open heart, and that's why she's one my best friends today. Though I know she has strong opinions about what I could or should do in any situation, she always lets me figure things out for myself and offers up only what she's learned through her own life experiences, without pressuring me to follow her example. Sometimes the best advice is to keep your advice to yourself; this is one of the most valuable lessons my mother taught me and it's something that I apply daily in all my relationships."
Sandra Deane, AOL Television and Moviefone

"Always take a sweater; you never know when you'll need it. (This also applies to Kleenex and cash.)"
Susan Wagner, Holidash

"When I was in fifth grade, my clique of friends made fun of my non-designer clothes and dropped me. My mom said, 'If they care about something as silly as where your clothes are from, they aren't good enough to be your friends anyway.' I later relayed this wisdom to them on the playground and they eventually came around and stopped teasing me. It took a long time to really sink in (and I still forget it too often), but she taught me that it's pointless to spend time worrying about what other people think of you -- it's more important what you think of them."
Christina Nunez, AOL.com/Welcome Screen
Tanya Edwards

Don't forget to thank Mom for all her good advice! Credit: Tanya Edwards

"My mom taught me to always be true to what I believe, and she always backed up her words with actions. If she sees anyone being treated unfairly or poorly, she is the first person to speak up, even to her own detriment (and my occasional embarrassment). We once had a neighbor who treated their dog badly, and she first spoke to them about it, and then she called animal welfare. A lot of people might have just ignored it. She's my hero."
Tanya Edwards, AOL Health

"Right above our kitchen phone flaps a faded sticky note on which my mom jotted down a quote many years ago: 'I don't like work -- no man does - -but I like what is in the work -- the chance to find yourself.' She was not usually an inspirational-quote-type person but these words from Joseph Conrad clearly resonated with her. She conveys her belief in work as a means of self-definition and independence through her own example. Both my sister and I quickly latched onto work we love -- and I'm also ridiculously reliant on sticky notes!"
Jennifer Paull, StyleList and Holidash

"My mother always used to say 'Service with a smile...' I interpreted this as meaning that when a customer asks you to do something, no matter how ridiculous, that I should just smile and give them good service. In other words just grin and bear it..."
Brian Lowry, Senior Project Manager, AOL UK

"My mom taught me that honesty is always the best policy-because even if lying is the easier option, it's not worth losing your integrity."
Margaret Bristol, Holidash

"Surround yourself with people who are kind. This simple piece of advice is the reason I have wonderful and talented friends and a boyfriend I can't talk about without tearing up."
Kim Davis, AOL Music

What's the best advice your mom ever gave? Share with us in the comments! And don't forget to wish Mom a happy Mother's Day.