Keeping Up with William In which the Honorable Socrates Potter Talks of the Relative Merits of Sense Common and Preferred

"Keeping Up with William" by Irving Bacheller is a story set during World War I, showcasing the thoughts of Socrates Potter, a lawyer who shares his views on society and morality during the war. The story is mostly about the criticism of "Williamism", which is a symbol of arrogance tied to the supposed importance of being descended from someone important, like in German militarism. Socrates Potter looks closely at the values of the time, comparing the hard work of older generations to what he sees as the lazy actions of people, especially women, in his time. Through his discussions, Potter shows the risks of believing you are better than others and points to the value of common sense and equality. He connects different characters and behaviors in society to show basic truths about people, their responsibilities, and what happens when they ignore their sense of right and wrong. This story is both a critique of society and a message calling for people to think deeply and take action in times of trouble.