To provide a liquid crystal composition having at least one or a suitable balance regarding at least two of characteristic such as high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, low minimum temperature thereof, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large dielectric anisotropy, large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light or heat; an AM device having short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, long service life and so forth. The liquid crystal composition has positive dielectric anisotropy and contains a specific compound having high maximum temperature and large refractive index anisotropy as a first component, and may contain a specific compound having large positive dielectric anisotropy as a second component, a specific compound having high maximum temperature or small viscosity as a third component or a specific compound having negative dielectric anisotropy as a fourth component, and a liquid crystal display device includes the composition.