The quote "You don't know where you're going unless you know where you've been" from the book "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel highlights the importance of understanding one's past in order to navigate the future. It suggests that our experiences shape our direction and that reflection on our history is crucial for informed decision-making. Without this awareness, we might wander aimlessly, unsure of our path.

This idea resonates throughout the narrative of "Station Eleven," where characters face apocalyptic challenges and must recall their histories to find meaning and purpose in a drastically changed world. By intertwining the past with the present, Mandel emphasizes the need to learn from what has come before to create a vision for what lies ahead.