On Surprising Statements of Hillel and Shamai

 Human beings are always more than the one thing that they are pigeonholed them to be.

I see this in the first perek of Avot in the statements of Hillel and Shamai.

Hillel who's known to be a softie has not one but four harsh sounding statements in a row.*

Shamai, who's know to be gruff, says to receive all people with a pleasant countenance.

*He used to say: one who makes his name great causes his name to be destroyed; one who does not add to his knowledge causes it to cease; one who does not study the Torah deserves death; one who makes use of the crown of learning shall pass away.