Mm, it's not about what I think. Mages are researchers. They all desire one thing, to reach the Root — the source of all Mystery and phenomena in this world. It doesn't matter how many people are hurt or suffer from their methods of reaching it. As long as magecraft and Mystery stay secret from the common public the Mage's Association will not intervene. Mages are meant to be cold, calculating, and do only what's necessary to further their goals.

[As such there is no such thing as "cruelty" or "evil" to a mage. Only what works, and what doesn't.]