"Once conform, once do what others do because they do it, and a kind of lethargy steals over all the finer senses of the soul"

This quote by Michel de Montaigne talks to the risks of conformity. When we comply with the expectations of others, we can become contented and lose our sense of individuality. We become passive and lose our ability to think for ourselves. We become lethargic and our creativity and creativity are stifled. We become less familiar with our own requirements and desires and instead concentrate on what is expected of us. We end up being less able to believe critically and make decisions based upon our own values and beliefs. We end up being less able to express ourselves and our own viewpoints. We end up being less able to take risks and explore new ideas. We become less able to challenge the status quo and push for change. In short, conformity can lead to a loss of our own identity and a sense of stagnation.