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Throughout his time at Harvard, William struggled to fit in. Despite his intellectual prowess, he lacked the social skills to navigate a world that found him both fascinating and alien. He was bullied and mocked for his awkwardness, heightening his anxiety about being perceived as a "know-it-all." This underlying tension only grew after he graduated in 1914, where he clearly expressed his desire for solitude, stating, "The only way to live the perfect life is to live it in seclusion."
His ambition to escape the pressures of society took on a darker tone as he distanced himself from academia and embraced a life of anonymity. He even tried his hand at teaching mathematics at Rice University, yet once again, he was met with ridicule and social isolation.