Idiom or phrase to indicate that mere sympathy does not help

Question

Are there any idioms or phrases to indicate that mere sympathy does not make a good case in the context of the following sentence?

Instead of proving his innocence, he relied on his personal stories. Mere sympathy does not make a good case, so he needs to bring evidence.

Old Brixtonian · Accepted Answer

Firstly, are we in the present or the past? He needs is in the present tense: He relied is in the past tense.

In order to prove his innocence he needs to produce evidence, rather
than simply tugging at our heartstrings with his personal stories.

Changing 'needs' to 'needed' will move the sentence into the past tense.

Yosef Baskin supplied the perfect expression.

Mary · Answer

In logic, this is the argumentum ad misericordiam, or the appeal to pity.

gidds · Answer

To mean that actions, not just words, are needed, you could say:
Fine words butter no parsnips.
This is an old English expression, but you still hear it occasionally.  It refers to the practice of mashing root vegetables with butter (a potentially strenuous task), and also to ‘buttering up’ in the sense of flattery.
(More details here, and in this question.)

Idiom or phrase to indicate that mere sympathy does not help

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