The invention provides a liquid crystal composition that includes a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a first component and a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a second component, that optionally includes a specific compound having a high maximum temperature or a small viscosity as a third component and a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a fourth component, and that has negative dielectric anisotropy, and provides a liquid crystal display device containing this composition.