The wall

In one of my previous posts I felt that a solution to keep relationships going great is to stop expecting and keep giving, giving more than the other expects and going on doing so. But just realised that somewhere, no matter how tough you may be, one hits the wall. One just can't keep giving without being reciprocated atleast 1/10th; somewhere you just can't keep on not-expecting - somewhere self-respect kicks in and that is when you've had enough of it. If the other party doesn't realise this he/she/they is/are plain uncaring, a big-time snob or just dumb!
What do in such a situation then? Just give up and throw the towel?... um.. may be..