Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.

This quote means that words are like pale shadows, or weak copies of powerful names. Just like a name can invoke certain images and emotions, so too can words when communicated correctly. Words can have a great influence on people’s thoughts and feelings, sometimes being able to make someone feel powerful emotions such as joy or sorrow.