"I've gone on the wagon, but my body doesn't believe it"

This quote by Irwin Shaw is a humorous method of expressing the difficulty of breaking a bad practice. It suggests that despite the fact that the speaker has actually made a conscious decision to avoid something, their body is still conditioned to expect it. This could be translated as a metaphor for dependency, as the body is utilized to the compound or activity and is struggling to adjust to the abrupt change. It could also be interpreted as a metaphor for any type of bad routine, such as overindulging or smoking cigarettes. The quote recommends that even when we make a mindful decision to alter our habits, our bodies might still be conditioned to anticipate the old habits. Breaking a bad practice can be challenging, and this quote is a humorous method of expressing that difficulty.