"Will We Die, Just a Little?" What does that mean?
In the end of the 2016's film, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", Percival Graves, before it was revealed to be Gellert Grindelwald, makes a speech to Seraphina Piquery:
Seraphina Picquery: He was responsible for the death of a No-Maj. He risked the exposure of our community. He has broken one of our most sacred laws...
Percival Graves: A law that has us scuttling like rats in the gutter! A law that demands we conceal our true nature! A law that directs those under its dominion to cower in fear lest we risk discovery! I ask you, Madam President, I ask all of you... Who does this law protect? Us? Or them? I refuse to bow down any longer.
After the audience was misled to think that the president will cast a spell against him, Newt comes to the rescue instead by holding him in place with a plant-like thing that was thrown and revealed, by a spell that does not work on him, to be Grindelwald. They took him away, but before setting off Grindelwald told Newt directly, "Will we Die, Just a Little?"
How can we interpret this meaning? There are bound to be several ways to decode it when it comes to the movie itself (setting, American Wizarding Laws and Ways), the Deathly Hallows, directly in its words and a wonder from a literary standpoint akin to "Little Did He Know".
So goes...
The phrase is more direct in its meaning than people might realize. But before that, let us see from a movie standpoint. What is noticed by the film is how much of it is structured around the importance of the nature of America's laws. Rapport's Law is a segregation law (that has more laws in themes than that) that was around since 1777 and did not repeal till 1962. The American Wizarding Government, M.A.C.U.S.A, had not associated themselves with the religious beliefs and opinions of Magical Beasts and Poltergeists for a long time due to the fear of being revealed, or "risk discovery". They also have a Death room, sentenced to death right away, due to that fear. Al criminals have/are sentenced to death; no trial. so, the phrase could have associations with the government's Death Penalty and his acceptance of it. Especially if we see it as a standalone film with no sequels. As I mentioned, the film is strictly about America and nothing more.
Extensively, the phrase could have some relation to the Deathly Hallows. It is a symbol, inspired from the Freemasons (EYE to muggles), that is associated with three weapons of power; The Elders Wand, The Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of Invisibility. "The Master of Death" is what one is called to have them. Created by three brothers; Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus, as a prize from Death himself, each died by murder, Suicide, and Old Age respectively. Many cloaks were made as one just needs a hair of a Demiguise, but the story is one particular cloak that is in the hands of the Potters within Ignotus's lineage. But to be the master of death is to be able to overcome death and would mean one does not accept death. The Elder's Wand, known once as a Deathstick, made of Elder wood and Thestral Hair core, can see a Thestral if one accepts and seen Death. It sounds like "Will We Die, Just a Little" is a welcoming of death.
To put it simply, the phrase literally means Will we invite death a little. See, The phrase would mean that, and i think what it is getting at, is to experience death a little bit, one will be more alive than ever. Harry felt more alive than he EVER was in his life after he died. Course, Harry did use all three objects in his life, thou not together.
Of course, there is the "We", which would be more in general rather than Newt and Gellert, but he did say it to newt specifically The phrase is also synonymous with the Horcrux which is when one splits a soul into an object (of importance) hence "a little".
"Harry Potter" fansite, Snitch Seeker, talked to the director, David Yates, regarding its meaning:
"You know, ultimately, I think that’s what he’s saying there is he’s saying, “We’re gonna be on this amazing journey together, you and I. And it will demand an enormous amount from both of us in what it will put us through. And in that journey, we will probably sacrifice quite a bit. We will lose part of ourselves on the journey. So that’s what that means, I think. Will we die, just a little?"
In the sequel, Leta Lestrange was killed, or "engulfed" with flames by Gellert, which fits the "sacrifice" bit.
The thing is by now, the phrase has to be seen in the long run when it comes to its meaning. FB3 is set in 1930; Rio Brazil and, apparently, China, and is about the oath and blood pact. Also, it is the film that will give us answers (such as to Credence Barebone being a Dumbledore). Even on par with the blood pact, the phrase has a romantic angle in its significance to not be able to kill one another. Or a reference to Credence, at the time, after he blew up?
Eddie, in that interview, said in regards to the quote: "But I think the point is that Newt doesn’t know what that means." Could mean anything in the end. But if there is a literature angle, it could also have come from a book, given most characters are Shakespeare-related.