Life is short, and the time of death is uncertain; so apply yourself to meditation. avoid doing evil, and acquire merit, to the best of your ability, even at the cost of life itself. in short, act so that you will have no cause to be ashamed of yourselves; and hold fast to this rule." wouldn't most religious agree with the idea of acting in such a way as to not be ashamed of your actions?

Yes. Most religious people would agree that individuals should commit themselves to a life of purpose and serving a higher power. A common teaching of most common religions is the need to serve a higher power. This includes avoiding sin and living one’s life to the best of one’s ability in order to be of value to others

Although the British colonies started later than both the French and Spanish, it quickly outpaced both in North America. The English colonists were better fed, clothed, and housed than their counterparts. One reason for this was that the French and Spanish colonies were characterized by strong central control exercised by the monarchy. It helped them to get off the mark quickly, but in the end hindered innovation and their ability to deal with changing circumstances. Both the French and Spanish empires were vast. The English colonies were tightly grouped along the Atlantic coastline. This provided them with communication and transportation benefits.