A little help is worth a deal of pity

This is similar to Actions speak louder than words. It is better to help persons who are in trouble than to say how sorry you are for them. For example, when Mrs Pemberton’s kitchen was flooded out by a heavy storm of rain, Mrs Trulove, who lived next door, was very sympathetic indeed. She was still telling Mrs Pemberton how grieved she was that such a thing should have happened to her neighbour, when Mrs Young came across over the road with a bucket and mop to help Mrs Pemberton to clear up the mess.