"I would have been a much more popular Wolrd Champion if I had always said what people wanted to hear. I might have been dead, but definitely more popular"

Jackie Stewart's quote reviews the idea that it is often simpler to be popular than to be honest. He recommends that if he had said what individuals wanted to hear, he would have been more popular as a World Champion. However, he indicates that this would have come at an expense, as he would have been "dead" in some sense. This could mean that he would have been dead to his own values and beliefs, or that he would have been unable to speak his reality. Ultimately, Stewart's quote suggests that it is much better to be sincere and real to oneself, even if it indicates sacrificing appeal.