A liquid crystal apparatus includes a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing a first and a second orientation state disposed between first and second electrodes of a liquid cell. A drive circuit applies voltages between the first and second electrodes including voltages .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline. and .vertline.V.sub.I .vertline. which provide voltages V.sub.A and V.sub.B (V.sub.B V.sub.A) satisfying the relationship of: .vertline.(V.sub.A -V.sub.B)/(V.sub.A +V.sub.B).vertline.>0.1 at 40.degree. C. V.sub.A is a minimum peak value of a voltage .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline.+.vertline.V.sub.I .vertline. (at a constant pulse width) capable of inverting the first orientation state of the chiral smectic liquid crystal into the second orientation state when a voltage pulse is applied between the first and second electrodes to cause the first orientation state of the chiral smectic liquid crystal and then the voltage .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline.+.vertline.V.sub.I .vertline. is applied between the first and second electrodes as a combination of a voltage .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline. applied to the first electrode and a voltage - V.sub.I .vertline. applied to the second electrode V.sub.B is a value of .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline.+.vertline.V.sub.I .vertline. calculated based on a maximum peak value of a voltage .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline.-.vertline.V.sub.I .vertline. capable of maintaining the first orientation state of the chiral smectic liquid crystal when a voltage pulse is applied between the first and second electrodes to cause the first orientation state and then the voltage .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline.-.vertline.V.sub.I .vertline. is applied between the first and second electrodes as a combination of a voltage .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline. applied to the first electrode and a voltage .vertline.V.sub.I .vertline. applied to the second electrode.