A nematic liquid crystal composition comprising at least one member selected from 4-alkyl- or 4-alkoxy-benzoic acids represented by the following general formula (I) , particularly a nematic liquid crystal composition comprising a carboxylic acid mixture composed of at least one member selected from 4-alkyl- or 4-alkoxy-benzoic acids represented by the following general formula (I) and at least one member selected from 4-alkylcyclohexanecarboxylic acids represented by the following general formula (IV): <IMAGE> (I) <IMAGE> (IV) wherein R1 stands for an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and R4 stands for an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
