In the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary happiness is defined as “a state of well-being and contentment.” The word contentment means “a state of happiness and satisfaction.” By these definitions one can conclude that their meanings are interchangeably. As if you cannot have one without the other, or can we? In this essay I will compare the thoughts of three great philosophers, Epictetus, Bertrand Russell and his Holiness the Dalai Lama and their thoughts on what creates true happiness and/or contentment. Epictetus had one main belief, and that belief is the practice of Stoicism. The Main idea of this practice is that. “Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions. (Barnet and Bedau 996). Looking at the first part of this quote one can interpret it as Epictetus referring to being content. Epictetus speaks about the things that we can control, in other words if we want only what is in our power to secure, then we will be content. For example; better careers. The second part of the quote maybe referring to the happiness. Since his teachings revolved mainly on the belief that “the goal of life is happiness.”(Barnet and Bedau 995) For example: wanting things that are out of our control can lead to unhappiness such as someone in the family dying or having mental health issues. Epictetus’ teachings were more geared towards “moral obligations to others rather than, for instance, a non-moral life of egoistic self-preservation” (Stephens). In other words worldly contentment, being rational in our thoughts and actions, as is the Dalai Lama’s view of happiness as well. Our Holiness the Dalai Lama’s philosophical views of happiness lays closer to desires. The Dalai Lama believes in two desires, “O