'The quick brown fox…' : Articles in proverbs

[Tamara]

Hi

In any language proverbs are generalised and fixed phrases expressing 'folk wisdom'.

(But only a few languages use that <censored> articles. )

Could you explain why do you use definite articles in some proverbs:
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
…

whereas in others you use indefinite one:
An old dog will learn no new tricks.
…

and sometimes that <censored> articles are both definite and indefinite in the same phrase… with no hope for me to find a rule :
The mouse lordships where a cat is not.

?
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Alan]

Hi Tamara,

Your first example of the fox is used as a way of testing a typewriter by using all the letters of the alphabet and is known as a pangram, apparently. As for the others, well that would take a deal of time to work them all out.

[Tamara]

Hi Alan

Thank you for you response.

[Tamara]

Ah! I've forgotten to add cases with no (zero?) article…
like
Dog eat(s?) dog.
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Yankee]