An improved driving method capable of achieving high-quality display even in simple matrix addressing for a ferroelectric liquid crystal matrix panel at a high multiplex ratio applies pulses of a frequency higher than that of a scanning voltage in an addressed condition to a scanning electrode in a non-addressed condition to gain either a surface stabilizing effect or an AC field stabilizing effect, hence ensuring high-contrast display. And the panel is so driven that the temporal average of the voltage applied to each pixel becomes zero, thereby averting deterioration of the liquid crystal.