Elrond's words: Does 🌋Mordor surpass First Age 🧝Elves?

[Turin_Turambar]

In the Fellowship of the Ring Elrond has a saying: "Had I a host of Elves in armour of the Elder Days, it would avail little, save to arouse the power of Mordor."
what does this mean? Does he emphasize that Mordor is more powerful than the high elves of the first age?

 

[1stvermont]

In the Fellowship of the Ring Elrond has a saying: "Had I a host of Elves in armour of the Elder Days, it would avail little, save to arouse the power of Mordor."
what does this mean? Does he emphasize that Mordor is more powerful than the high elves of the first age?

I always understood it to say Mordor had grown into a mighty power. Of course, had Elrond led a host of elves against Morgoth, it would have aviled little.

 

[Amarthon]

In the Fellowship of the Ring Elrond has a saying: "Had I a host of Elves in armour of the Elder Days, it would avail little, save to arouse the power of Mordor."
what does this mean? Does he emphasize that Mordor is more powerful than the high elves of the first age?

Looking at past entries, this issue has come up before. Elrond also said at the earlier council that nothing could rival the Armies of Beleriand. I think that Elrond is saying that as long as the Ring still exists, it wouldn't matter. But I also think that Elrond is giving in to Despair for a moment.

 

[Alcuin]

In the Fellowship of the Ring Elrond has a saying: "Had I a host of Elves in armour of the Elder Days, it would avail little, save to arouse the power of Mordor."
what does this mean?

That’s a good question.

The Elves, the Dúnedain, and Sauron, too, are all weaker at the end of the Third Age than at the end of the Second Age. There are a lot of Men, though, marching under Sauron’s banners: Easterlings, Southrons, Men of Khand, Corsairs of Umbar. They vastly outnumber the forces Gondor can muster, and there are too few Elves or Dwarves to help them.

I suppose Elrond’s statement must be read in light of the previous sentence, giving it this context:

The number [of Frodo’s companions] must be few, since your hope is in speed and secrecy. Had I a host of Elves in armor of the Elder Days, it would avail little, save to arouse the power of Mordor.
​

I guess the reference must be to “speed and secrecy.”