Conform Quote by Fernando Pessoa
““To conform is to submit, and to conquer is to conform, to be conquered. Thus every victory is a debasement. The conqueror inevitably loses all the marks of frustration with the status quo that led him to the fight that brought victory. He becomes satisfied, and only those who conform – who lack the conqueror’s mentality – are satisfied. Only the man who never achieves his goal conquers. Only the man who is forever discouraged is strong.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Book of Disquiet, 1913
The quote suggests that true conquest requires continual resistance; conformity leads to loss of purpose and true strength lies in perpetual striving.
In simple terms: Victory requires endless effort; conformity weakens.
Key Takeaway
Keep challenging the status quo.
Themes
resistance
conformity
strength
purpose
Mood
reflective
determined
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- political activism
- creative pursuits
- leadership
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever feel satisfied with staying within the status quo?
- How can you balance ambition with inner peace?
A Different Perspective
Conformity can provide stability and safety, which some may value over perpetual struggle.
![“[An engineer's] invention causes things to come into existence from ideas, makes world conform to thought; whereas science, by deriving ideas from observation, makes thought conform to existence.” quote by Carl Mitcham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08a/carl-mitcham-111336_accounts_an-engineer-s-invention-causes-things-to_37806.jpg)
