Time Lords (from Doctor Who) and Altarans (from Stargate series) had many things in common. They were both extremely evolved species that had their inner squabbles (renegades like the Doctor or Merlin; bad guys like Master and the Ori), so it was quite apparent that they could not keep their people in order. Granted, it might be rather difficult to oversee the actions of shape-shifting time travelers, but it is not impossible. For species that have evolved so far and existed for so long, I would expect to have a more advanced culture, a better form of government. Alas, they don't.
When I say 'bad guys', I mean the people who decided to break the rules. The most important of them is a no-change policy - they are not allowed to change anything that happens. No helping the less evolved species, no protecting anyone from being exterminated. In fact, the only time they appear to do anything is when they are being targeted. Why anyone would bother with them if they do nothing is anyone's guess. Sure, they are big and powerful, but if they do nothing it does not matter. If you want to exterminate them, leave the best for last. That way you will already have established a power base in their vicinity and amassed forces large enough to be quite undefeatable. Staying on the defensive indicated insufficient strength, going on the offensive indicates a overabundance of strength. Only fight a fight you've already won.
In any case, the no-change policy causes an obvious security risk. If you are not allowed to react to a threat, you will face the dire consequences. And why not help the little guys? Enlighten them of your mistakes, teach them how to avoid those blunders. Inform them, influence them by teaching them. You don't have to make them dependent on you, you don't have to make them perfect. But a little guidance goes a long way. It's like being parents to a less evolved species. Sure they might not listen to you, and do some stupid stuff along the way, but that's just a part of growing up, of evolving. And who knows, maybe they find an another path that differs from yours. There isn't much you can do without a huge risk of changing things for the worse, but it's a whole lot better than doing nothing. When you see a problem, advise, help. Don't look the other way. After all, I bet learning from your elders was an important part of your evolution at some point.
Yes, there is a good chance there will be someone 'evil' who will advise badly. But that's the whole point of teaching those under you to think for themselves. And maybe you are the 'evil' person who advises badly. 'evil' and 'good' are extremely subjective. All you can hope is that what you've learned, what you know, is somewhat useful to others. Otherwise, what excuse do you have for existing if you cannot impart a single bit of information that would benefit someone else? If you cannot affect someone's life for the better, if you can't make a person smile for a moment, if you can't even make anyone remember you (well, that is quite a problem for the Silence)? If it does not matter whether you exist or not, then you are not a higher species. If that is the case, then perhaps you should learn from those you consider beneath you.
And no, not mattering does not mean that you should not exist. If there is no reason for you to exist, then there probably isn't a good reason for you not to exist. So you might as well keep existing, and you will probably begin to matter to somebody. Hope is a powerful influence.
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