A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising smectic liquid crystal compound(s) and optically active compound(s) and having high-speed response properties and a light switching element containing the same are provided, which composition comprises the following three liquid crystal components A, B and C, the respective proportions thereof being 10 to 70%, 10 to 50% and 10 to 40% each by weight based on the total weight of these components, respectively:liquid crystal component A:at least one compound selected from compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each are 1-18C alkyl, and compounds of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each are 1-18C alkyl or alkoxy; liquid crystal compound B:at least one compound of the formula ##STR3## wherein R.sup.5 is a 1-18C alkyl, n is an integer of 0 to 10 and * indicates asymmetric carbon; andliquid crystal component C:at least one compound selected from compounds of the formula ##STR4## wherein R.sup.6 is 1-18C alkyl or alkoxy and * is as defined above; and compounds of the formula ##STR5## wherein R.sup.7 is 1-18 alkyl or alkoxy and * is as defined above.