patchwork

has no center, only piece added to piece — literally a Riemannian space, proving that smooth does not mean homogeneous.

Recast in definition form from: “… is adequate to demonstrate that "smooth" does not mean homogeneous …”

is the fate of a city born in servitude: Florence for two hundred years patched her institutions without ever having a government that deserved the name of commonwealth, since new laws mixed with bad old ones cannot be good.

Recast in definition form from: “… and began to frame her own laws, these, since they were blended with ancient ordinances which were bad, could not themselves be good; and thus for the two hundred years of which we have trustworthy record, our city has gone on patching her institutions, without ever possessing a government in respect of which she could truly be termed a commonwealth.”

patchwork, n.Definitions

patchwork