Connor would do well to remember that this is Molotov he's speaking with, and Molotov doesn't necessarily regard selfishness as a bad thing. In fact, she doesn't even mean the negative connotation of self-serving, only that his motives weren't liberty and justice and equality for all or whatever.

Connor's choice to help the world stemmed from a desire to help his people, not all people. Would he have ever donned the hood if his people didn't need saving?

That was all she meant by selfish.

"Just take the reins," she tells him, gently squeezing his hands. "We have been through the steps."