Full Idea
I have sometimes been amazed that children can learn languages so early, ...considering how little trouble is taken to instruct children in their native tongue, and how little thought adults give to getting sharp definitions.
Gist of Idea
Children learn language fast, with little instruction and few definitions
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 3.10)
Book Reference
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'New Essays on Human Understanding', ed/tr. Remnant/Bennett [CUP 1996], p.341
A Reaction
A striking anticipation of the key observation on which Chomsky built his theories, from a philosopher who was equally concerned to defend innate ideas and innate knowledge.