In resp. to LN's post:
I def. agree about the same individual having both the grace of heaven and the cruelty of hell - i mean that's probably the definition of the human-being for me. But somehow expecting nothing seems to me a little sad sometimes, kind of like I feel there should be certain things we should be able to expect from people... like basic human courtesy or decency... which I know often disappoints but somehow not expecting these things is a little too like giving up entirely on the human condition. I don't know. I haven't entirely resolved this issue either.