The novel's hero and leader of the strike, John Galt, describes it as stopping "the motor of the world" by withdrawing the minds of individuals contributing most to the nation's wealth and achievements.
ðə nˈɑːvəlz hˈiəɹoʊ ænd lˈiːdɚɹ ʌvðə stɹˈaɪk, dʒˈɑːn ɡˈɔlt, dᵻskɹˈaɪbz ɪɾ æz stˈɑːpɪŋ "ðə mˈoʊɾɚɹ ʌvðə wˈɜːld" baɪ wɪθdɹˈɔːɪŋ ðə mˈaɪndz ʌv ˌɪndᵻvˈɪdʒuːəlz kəntɹˈɪbjuːɾɪŋ mˈoʊst tə ðə nˈeɪʃənz wˈɛlθ ænd ɐtʃˈiːvmənts.