Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-3297904-20150315141751/@comment-1512913-20150317112447

Madara is a saint compared to Orochimaru. He wasn't truly an evil person, we all are capable of both good and evil and Madara simply chose the latter in a delusion that it will bring the greater good. Madara indeed was cruel though. He felt the world wronged him so he had an urge to wrong others.

Orochimaru on the other hand has very little "humanity" in him, both in literal and philosophical senses. He is absolutely incapable of empathy. The only reason why he had joined Sasuke is because he wanted to see the revolution he might have brought to the world. And the only reason why he felt sorry for Kabuto is because Kabuto copied him to the bone, yet failed, so in a way, looking at Kabuto, Orochimaru felt sorry for himself, seeing since he himself has failed many times and those who copy him also fail, maybe he should follow in Sasuke's footsteps.