The Wheel of Time series. I came to identify with the three main male characters (Perrin, Mat and Rand) at different periods of my life, and the story of them tackling their own personal struggles really inspired me.

The female characters in that series are also fantastic, and there's a lot to learn from them.

One quote that has stayed with me for a long time: "There is one rule, above all others, for being a man. Whatever comes, face it on your feet."