A man who is afraid will do anything.
What Nehru captures here is something darker than mere cowardice—he's describing how fear becomes a tool of control. A frightened person stops thinking about what's right and becomes willing to compromise principles, betray others, or accept degradation simply to feel safe again. This is why tyrants throughout history have relied on intimidation rather than persuasion; a terrified population is infinitely more compliant than a hopeful one. We see this played out in workplaces where employees stay silent about ethical violations, or in relationships where someone tolerates mistreatment because the alternative—being alone, being poor, being excluded—feels more threatening than the harm they're already enduring.