Let $X$ be a variety with a $G$-action by an algebraic group on it. My question refers to a motivating example from https://web.maths.unsw.edu.au/~danielch/thesis/mbrassil.pdf Here the relevant excerpt: [![enter image description here][1]][1] Here the author discusses an example of $X/G$ in order to explaine that it is neccessary to form $X/G$ as ***categorical quotient*** and not the ***topological*** one. We consider following motivating example introduced at page 27: Here we take $X:= \mathbb{C}^2$ with action by $G:=\mathbb{C}^x$ via multiplication $\lambda \cdot (x,y) \mapsto (\lambda x, \lambda y)$. Obviously the "naive" topological quotient consists set theoretically of the lines $\{(\lambda x, \lambda y) \vert \lambda \in \mathbb{C}^x \}$ and the origin $\{(0,0)\}$. Topologically the origin lies in the closure of every line. So the QUESTION is why does this argument already imply that $Y:=X/G$ cannot have a strucure of a variety? I don't understand the argument given by the author. Which role does here play the fact that we can't separate the lines from the origin (in ***pure topologically way***)? Does it cause an obstacle in order to form a variety structure on $X/G$? If we denote by $p:\mathbb{C}^2 \to Y$ the canonical projection map and by (continuity?) this map can't separate orbits, why does this already imply that $Y$ doesn't have structure of a variety as stated in the excerpt? Remark: I know that there are different ways to deduce that if we define $X/G$ pure topologically then it cannot have a structure of a variety. The most common argument is to introduce the invariant ring $R^G$ and to calculate it explicitely here. But the main issue of this question is it made me curious that the given argumentation seems to be a bit more "elementary" in sense that he doesn't explicitely work in this example with the concept of the invariant ring $R^G$. [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/4JoeE.png