why is conformity an enemy to self-reliance ?

Answer 1

Conformity is not an enemy to self-reliance. People use "conformity" as a blanket curse word because they don't want to be considered normal or average.

But when you put those same people into a crowd, they all look the same in their difference. They become like a quilt made up of different patches, all gaining uniformity (or conformity) from being tied to a single object.

Conformity and adherence to a "norm" is what truly fosters self-reliance, because it helps a person not to focus so much on fitting in, but acheiving goals due to personal ability.

Answer 2

Self-reliance must be discarded to conform. Self reliance is the highest form of freedom, and exists only when the person is of independent thought and action. Conformity requires one to avoid actions that are independent in favor of those that are the same as the group, regardless of whether the participant receives advantage from their acts. Politically, self-reliance is the highest form of capitalism, where conformity is the highest form of socialism.