"Did you even bother to pay attention to what was going on in the world during your little nap?" Probably not, as Strange was the one who woke Solas up in the first place. But a little thing like 'the obvious' isn't going to stop Strange's ranting. "Look at what's happened in Kirkwall, at the White Spire. Whether you realize it or not, things are changing. Now, more than ever, people would listen! I would certainly listen!"

There's a little bit of distancing himself from the Circle, though Strange hasn't fully realized that yet. Yes, the Circle's magic was formed from a desire to control. And yes, so was Strange's magic. All of this was to gain control over death, to bring back one person who had passed. But as much as Strange was a part of the Circle, he wasn't entirely it. Yes, there was a desire to control. But there was also a desire to simply learn.