tremble and obey

verb2

1. •
   To unthinkingly obey or pander to authorities, especially the Chinese government.

   • The ordinary voter ... feels himself their humble subject, whose duty is, as the Chinese used to say, to “tremble and obey”. — 1949
2. •
   (historical) Phrase promulgating a decree of the Chinese imperial government or the early British colonial administration in Hong Kong.

   • Let the good tremble and obey; let them not act so as to have hereafter to repent. A special Proclamation. — 1857