Mark Carney’s Davos Warning: Are We All Just "Living a Lie"?

By Muneeb Nasir 

In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, January 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney, shared a story that is relevant to our lives today. 

He spoke of Václav Havel, the Czech dissident who later became president, and a famous essay he wrote in 1978 called ‘The Power of the Powerless.’

In that essay, Havel describes a simple greengrocer who, every morning, places a sign in his shop window that reads: "Workers of the world unite." 

The catch? The greengrocer doesn’t actually believe the slogan. 

No one who walks past his shop believes it either. 

He puts it there simply because everyone else does—to avoid trouble, to signal he is "falling in line," and to ensure a quiet life. 

Havel called this "living within a lie." 

The system’s power didn't come from its truth, but from everyone’s collective willingness to act as if it were true.

While Carney was speaking to global leaders, his point hits home at a much more personal level. 

In our own neighbourhoods, community groups, and organizations, are we also putting "signs" in our windows that we privately know to be false?

The "Signs" We Hang Today

In our communities, these signs aren't political slogans. 

Instead, they are the buzzwords we use to describe ourselves: Unity. Transparency. Inclusion. Accountability.

We see these words on mission statements and hear them in speeches. 

But often, there is a gap between the words on the sign and the reality on the ground.

We might talk about "unity" while privately avoiding a difficult conversation because it might "cause a stir." 

We might claim "transparency" but only share the good news, keeping the struggles hidden.

When we do this, we are acting like the greengrocer. 

We are participating in a ritual we know isn't quite right, just to get along. 

We tell ourselves we are protecting the community’s or organization’s reputation, but in reality, we are sustaining a culture that isn't being honest with itself.

The Cost of Playing Along

For any community built on shared values, this "performance" has a high price.

Truthfulness isn't just a nice idea; it is the foundation of trust. 

Our primary loyalty should be to the truth, even when that truth is uncomfortable or makes our own group look bad. 

When we prioritize "saving face" over being honest, we aren't actually protecting our communities or institutions—we are making them hollow.

The Moment the Illusion Cracks

Havel’s most important insight was that a system built on "living a lie" is incredibly fragile. 

It only works as long as everyone agrees to keep the signs in their windows.

As Carney noted, "When even one person stops performing, when the greengrocer removes his sign, the illusion begins to crack."

We see these cracks in our communities today, particularly among younger generations. 

They have a high "authenticity radar." 

They can sense when the "unity" being preached is actually excluding people, or when "leadership" is more about ego than service. 

When they see a gap between what we say and what we do, they don't just leave —they often lose interest in the values entirely.

Taking Down the Sign

Taking down the sign is not easy. 

It means being the person in the meeting who asks the awkward question. 

It means a board of directors admitting they made a mistake. 

It means a leader saying, "I don't have all the answers."

But "living in truth" is the only way to build something that lasts. 

Authentic community strength comes from honesty over harmony, from walking the talk and from admitting our weaknesses.

Mark Carney’s challenge to "take the signs down" is a call for all of us. 

Our communities will only be as strong as our willingness to be honest. 

The greengrocer’s sign might buy a few days of peace, but it is the truth that builds a legacy worth having.