No i am simply pointing out that it has only ever been used in that fashion by folks who honestly think Mages are superior to folks who cannot combust into flames randomly, Usually from Tevinter but not always.
No more superior than the archer that can shoot him between the eyes from a hundred paces. 
So take any mage vs Robin Hood, and Robin could pretty much snipe them down without much fuss. Heck, Zevran easily overcame a mage and her guards on his second assassination mission.
I don't think mages are as powerful or as superior as you believe and fear them to be.
And an untrained mage is just as dangerous to himself. Hierarchy of the Circle codex is written by a Knight-Commander, and he talks about how most of the accidents are apprentices trying to do things they are not prepared for since they can't control their power. And we see from the mage origin that a mage's power reacts to their emotions, so they have to have a solid grasp of their emotions to use their powers effectively.
Without training, just like regular soldiers with a double-sided sword, they are as in much danger as those they face.