A liquid crystal composition which satisfies at least one property selected from the properties including a high upper-limit temperature of a nematic phase, a low lower-limit temperature of a nematic phase, a low viscosity, high optical anisotropy, high positive dielectric anisotropy, a high specific resistance, high stability toward ultraviolet ray and high stability toward heat or has a proper balance between at least two properties selected from the aforementioned properties is described. And the liquid crystal composition which comprises a specific tetracyclic compound that enables the production of a nematic phase having a high upper-limit temperature and has high dielectric anisotropy as a first component and a specific compound having high positive dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and which has positive dielectric anisotropy; and a liquid crystal display element comprising the composition.