sskuvira:

element-of-change:

avatarparallels:

Extreme opposing beliefs.

I always found this ironic since it was always so painfully obvious how Zaheer was inclined towards order and perfectionism and pragmatism and indifference, whereas Kuvira couldn’t keep a lid on her temper worth a damn. This was some of the best writing for Korra imo, two opposing villains with opposing viewpoints, and the viewpoints were born of their desires to change themselves and their inherent inclinations.

good point. 
Zaheer  had self - discipline therefore resented external restrictions and expected that everyone would also develop the same internal modes of behavior control. 
Kuvira felt her life benefitted from external structure & order and assumed everyone would appreciate & benefit from external modes of control.