The relationship between the universality and the particularity of contradiction is the relationship between the general character and the individual character of contradiction. By the former we mean that contradiction exists in and runs through all processes from beginning to end; motion, things, processes, the world, and thinking – all are contradictions. To deny contradiction is to deny everything. This is a universal truth for all times and all countries, which admits of no exception. Hence the general character, the absoluteness of contradiction. But this general character is contained in the[4-521] individual character, the general character is made manifest in each individual character; without individual character there can be no general character. If all individual character were removed, what general character would remain? It is because each contradiction is particular that not one thing in the whole universe is the same, that change is limitless, and that its existence is temporary, and therefore relative.[4-522] Su Dongpo stated “If things are observed as they change, then heaven and parth can’t even remain for a moment”. In modern terms, it could be said that what he was speaking of was the particularity of contradiction, its relativity. “If things are observed unchanging, all the things and myself will last forever”.[4-523] This speaks of the universality of contradiction, its absoluteness. This truth concerning general and individual character, concerning absoluteness and relativity, is the quintessence of the theory of contradiction.[4-524] If this is understood, then anything can be mastered
There are still two points in the problem of the particularity of contradiction which must be singled out for analysis, namely, the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of a contradiction.
There are many contradictions in a complex process,[4-525] and one of them is necessarily the principal contradiction whose existence and development determines or influences the existence and development of the other contradictions.
For instance, in capitalist society the[4-526]contradiction between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie forms the principal contradiction. The others[4-527]such as those between the remnant feudal forces[4-528]and the bourgeoisie, between the peasant petty bourgeoisie and the bourgeoisie, between the proletariat and the peasant petty bourgeoisie, between non-monopoly capitalists and finance[4-529]capitalists, between bourgeois democracy and[4-530]fascism, among the capitalist countries and between imperialism and the colonies, are all determined or influenced by this principal contradiction.